Community outreach is about building partnerships locally and nationally that help prevent crime and protect our diverse nation.
Read about the FBI’s latest outreach initiatives, notable outreach activities and successes by Bureau partners and personnel, advice for staying safe from emerging threats and scams, career opportunities, and more.
The FBI and state and local law enforcement arrested thousands of suspected violent criminals and took more than 2,700 guns off the streets this summer.
As violent crime has increased in the last two years, the FBI and our task force partners worked diligently to address it. Nearly 6,000 violent criminals and drug offenders were arrested between May 1 and September 2 (in federal, state, and local cases).
The FBI also made 206 arrests in commercial robberies (convenience stores and other retail locations) during the summer months.
Celebrating the past, present, and future of women in the Bureau
Some of the Bureau’s historic “firsts” gathered during a two-day celebration marking 50 years of female special agents in the FBI. From left: JoAnn Sakato was the first Asian American female agent. Joanne Pierce Misko and Susan Roley Malone were the first two women to attend the FBI Academy. Kathy Adams was the first female SWAT team operator, and Christine M. Jung was the FBI’s first female firearms instructor.
As part of a two-day celebration of the 50th anniversary of female special agents in the FBI, some of the Bureau’s historic first female agents came back to Quantico and FBI Headquarters to share their experiences, stories, and advice with current personnel and new agent trainees.
While at Quantico, the first female agents toured the campus to see the changes that have been made since they were students 50 years ago. One of the first two female special agents, Joanne Pierce (Misko), noted: “I am impressed with how much the FBI has grown over the last 50 years.”
But beyond the growth in the Training Academy, she observed a more important change: “It is amazing to see so many female agents serving in leadership roles.”
High school students who attended the FBI Teen Academy participated in a bank robbery role-playing exercise, where they scoured the campus in search of evidence to find the perpetrator.
FBI employees provided a variety of briefings to students including a comprehensive look into the Bureau’s Operational Medicine Program, which trains and equips special agent medics who provide care in high-stress tactical situations.
On September 17, 2022, Community Outreach Specialists assigned to FBI Albuquerque and FBI Denver collaborated to host the first-ever joint FBI Teen and Collegiate Academy in the Four Corners area. The day-long event was held at Fort Lewis College in Durango, Colorado.
More than 65 students from across Colorado, New Mexico, and Wyoming joined Bureau staff to get a “behind the scenes” look into the FBI’s priorities, what the Bureau investigates, and the tools and tactics used by agents, analysts, and professional staff. The day began with welcome remarks from personnel at Fort Lewis College, which is designated as one of six Native American-serving, non-tribal colleges by the U.S. Department of Education. Additionally, more than 42% of Fort Lewis students are Native American or Alaska Native, representing 184 Tribes and Native Alaskan villages.
At the end of the daylong event, students were able to try on FBI tactical gear and pose for photographs. Students were also encouraged to connect with Bureau staff to ask questions and learn more about specific job opportunities.
After a quick icebreaker activity, the high school students and college students were divided into smaller groups where FBI staff provided presentations on Operational Medicine, the Intelligence and Language Programs, Online Safety, Special Weapons and Tactics, and Indian Country. The high school students also participated in a hands-on bank robbery role-playing exercise, which tested their investigative and listening skills.
Staff from the American Indian Science and Engineering Society (AISES) were also on-hand to provide an overview of their organization and share information on AISES membership, valuable resources for students, and available scholarship funds.
The day ended with a career panel, where students heard personal anecdotes and asked questions of special agents, analysts, auto technicians, linguists, and electronics technicians. Students were reminded that each Bureau employee brings a unique skillset, lived experience, and perspective to their work, and the FBI is committed to recruiting and retaining a diverse and inclusive workforce.
Students interested in learning more about the FBI’s Teen and Collegiate Academy Program should reach out to their local field office for additional details. Contact information for field offices can be found at fbi.gov/contact-us/field-offices.
The National Leadership Conference is the FBI National Citizens Academy Alumni Association’s (FBINCAAA) largest annual education and networking event. Held June 28 – 30, 2022 in Norfolk, Virginia, this year marked the 15th gathering of FBI Citizens Academy Program alumni, chapter leaders, National Association board members, and FBI partners. The annual meeting serves as the official forum where expert counsel, leadership training, and peer-to-peer collaboration converge to ensure success in local communities served by the chapters and their respective FBI field offices.
With more than 200 alumni and FBI partners in attendance, this year’s conference offered three days of educational programs and events to showcase successful community outreach strategies as well as provide expert counsel, leadership training, and peer-to-peer collaboration.
FBI Deputy Director Paul Abbate delivered the opening keynote speech emphasizing the FBI’s priorities in addressing threats ranging from the surge in violent crimes to counterterrorism to cybercrimes and national security and stressed the importance of community partnerships and information sharing in helping the FBI better understand emerging threats. He thanked the FBI Citizens Academy Program alumni for their service adding, “It’s the people who support and sustain the FBI.”
FBI Deputy Director Paul Abbate delivers the keynote address to the FBINCAAA 2022 National Leadership Conference in Norfolk, Virginia.
Other FBI speakers presented case studies of specific crimes investigated by the FBI as well as information on the FBI’s capabilities to recognize, focus, and fight both foreign and domestic threats.
The National Leadership Conference is planned and orchestrated by the all-volunteer FBINCAAA Board of Directors and members of the host city Chapter. Chapter leadership development is the primary goal of the conference.
Conference participants attended a wide variety of educational programs, breakout sessions, and special events throughout the three-day affair.
Conference faculty and presenters are chosen from FBINCAAA chapters that have demonstrated leadership in operations, outreach, and member engagement. Workshop topics and panel discussions included:
- Leadership performance roundtables for chapter officers
- Excellence in chapter operations: governance policies and best practices
- Increasing membership engagement and retention
- Strategies and tactics for successful fundraising
- Community outreach best practices in human trafficking, elder fraud, hate crimes/color of law, incident response, and youth engagement
FBINCAAA 2022 National Leadership Conference attendees aboard the USS Wisconsin in Norfolk, Virginia.
In addition to the education and training programs, the conference hosts several special events, such as an annual Celebrating Excellence Awards ceremony to recognize chapters and individuals for outstanding achievements in outreach, education, and service projects in support of the FBI.
This year, the host chapter—FBI Norfolk Citizens Academy Alumni Association—arranged a networking social aboard the USS Wisconsin, a historic battleship moored at the downtown Norfolk waterfront.
About the FBI National Citizens Academy Alumni Association
The FBI National Citizens Academy Alumni Association (FBINCAAA) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, all-volunteer organization that works in partnership with the FBI to promote public safety and security through community engagement, education, and outreach initiatives. Founded in 2005, the National organization provides training, resources, and governance oversight for nearly 60 local FBI National Citizens Academy Alumni Association Chapters representing more than 53,000 business, civic, religious, and community leaders across the U.S., Guam, and Puerto Rico.
The national board of directors is already planning for next year’s National Leadership Conference, which will be held in Boston, Massachusetts, with the FBI Boston Citizens Academy Alumni Association serving as the host chapter.
Investment in training, education, and collaboration is key to developing exceptional leaders and high performing chapters who serve to support the FBI’s mission. The FBINCAAA Annual National Leadership Conference provides purposeful, robust programming to achieve those goals.
FBI recruiting for Electronics Technicians and Trainees
This year, the FBI is focusing on the hard-to-fill positions such as the electronics technician posts. Electronics technicians provide essential, technical support to all FBI field offices. They are responsible for the design, installation, and maintenance of complex electronic systems and interrelated subsystems. They are also responsible for the Department of Justice land mobile radio systems, data network systems, and electronic security systems within all FBI field offices and facilities. This is not a desk job and is rarely mundane.
The Electronics Technician Trainee program presents an opportunity for professional entry-level electronics technicians who may not have completed their degree or have obtained enough work experience. The Electronic Technician Trainee program has created a program where they invest in the employees by providing training and guidance tailored to each employee, providing an opportunity to become a permanent employee and promotion potential.
Interested individuals seeking electronics technician roles can train with the FBI if they have at least:
- Six electronics education credit hours with lab work in direct current (DC) circuits, alternating current (AC) circuits, solid-state devices, digital circuits, integrated circuits, microprocessors, microcontrollers, and programmable logic controllers. OR
- Two years of work experience in radio systems, data networks, or physical security systems. Training with us will help you better prepare and qualify for a permanent electronics technician position.
Benefits
- Promotion potential to a GS-12
- 40-hour work week
- Bureau vehicles are assigned as take-home vehicles for senior electronic technicians (ETs)
- Entry level ETs can use bureau vehicles to drive to/from their assignments
- Non-stress work environment
- Flexible
- Rotational work
Interested applicants should check fbijobs.gov or fbijobs.gov/stem/engineering to learn more about the Electronics Technician featured openings and announcements.
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- There are FBI outreach specialists in your community eager to partner with you. Contact your local FBI field office and ask to speak with a community outreach specialist.
