The FBI’s San Francisco Field Office hosted its summer Teen Academy at the USS Hornet Sea, Air, and Space Museum in Alameda, California. The decommissioned aircraft carrier provided a stunning background and an interactive environment where Bay Area high school students could watch demos and presentations by FBI agents and analysts. The USS Hornet was an active aircraft carrier from 1943 to 1970, and its service spanned from carrying sailors and members of the ship’s air wing during World War II to safely recovering astronauts in the ocean from NASA’s Apollo 11 and 12 Moon landings.

Students tried on Tyvek suits in front of the USS Hornet (at left) and learned about evidence collection from an Evidence Response Team lead at a mock crime scene on the pier (right) during FBI San Francisco's Summer 2023 Teen Academy, held in Alameda, California.

The FBI’s Teen Academy offers high school students an opportunity to get a comprehensive look into the investigative programs and operational capabilities of the FBI. Students were provided with presentations on topics including civil rights, criminal investigations, terrorism, cybercrime, evidence response, SWAT, bomb technicians, and the day-to-day operations of a typical FBI office.

Clockwise from top: A Teen Academy student tries on bomb technician body armor and a helmet; special agent bomb technicians demonstrate robotic equipment to teens; and a special agent bomb technician (or SABT) helps a Teen Academy student with body armor during FBI San Francisco's Summer 2023 Teen Academy held in Alameda, California.

Out on the historic Pier 3, part of the old Alameda Naval Air Station, students worked with the FBI’s Evidence Response Team and Hazardous Evidence Response Team to assess a mock crime scene, dust for fingerprints, and try on the FBI’s personal protective gear used when collecting evidence. The FBI’s Special Agent Bomb technicians gave the teens a demonstration of the equipment used to analyze and disrupt suspicious devices. The teens got an up-close examination of the bomb robots and tried on the FBI’s bomb suits.

At left, FBI San Francisco Assistant Special Agent in Charge Jonathan Blair presents to students in the wardroom of the USS Hornet during the field office's Summer 2023 Teen Academy in Alameda, California. At right, an FBI special agent presents to Teen Academy students.

Back in the ship’s wardroom, students received presentations on the work the FBI conducts in criminal, cyber, terrorism, and counterintelligence investigative programs. The teens met with agents and analysts to discuss SWAT operations, crimes against children, and intelligence analysis. Finally, the students learned about future career opportunities in the FBI, including the special agent, analyst, and professional staff career paths.

“By providing Bay Area students with an immersive look at the FBI, we are giving them an opportunity to shape their education and careers to become the future leaders in law enforcement,” said Special Agent in Charge Robert K. Tripp. “It’s never too early to start preparing for a career in public service. There is no greater honor than serving your community.”

The FBI’s Teen Academy program is application-based. Any student meeting their local field office’s criteria may apply to attend an academy session. Future Teen Academy applications for FBI San Francisco will be available on the field office's Community Outreach webpage.