Director Mueller Announces New Assistant Director for the Training and Development Division

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Director Robert S. Mueller, III, announced the selection of Dr. James Trinka as the Assistant Director of the Training and Development Division.

“Dr. Trinka brings significant experience to help us build the training program we need to meet future challenges,” Mueller said.

As the Assistant Director, Dr. Trinka will oversee a major expansion of FBI training and development programs from a traditional focus on New Agent Training and the National Academy toward a more strategic emphasis on career development for all FBI employees.

Director Mueller said, “Dr. Trinka will work to implement training initiatives that are critical to our efforts to strengthen our intelligence workforce, build on our counterterrorism expertise, and prepare agents to deal with the global threats of the future.”

Prior to Dr. Trinka’s appointment with the FBI, he served for over four years as the Internal Revenue Service's (IRS) Director of Leadership and Organizational Effectiveness. Under Dr. Trinka’s guidance, IRS leadership development and succession planning programs became the benchmark in both the public and private sector. During his tenure at the IRS, Dr. Trinka earned the IRS' top award, the Commissioner's Award, in 2002 for his efforts in transforming the IRS’s human resource program and in 2003, the American Society of Training and Development (ASTD) bestowed its first annual, prestigious "BEST Award" to the IRS for training excellence.

Dr. Trinka completed a distinguished career in the U.S. Air Force, honorably retiring after nearly 22 years flying F-4 and F-16 fighter aircraft, holding a variety of training, leadership, and command positions. In the Air Force International Affairs office, he served as the Middle East country director, advancing the air force capabilities of eight different countries through the U.S. Foreign Military Assistance Program. Dr. Trinka also served as the Deputy Commander for Operations of a 2,500 person unit, comprised of forces from five countries and three services.

Dr. Trinka holds an undergraduate degree in Engineering Mechanics from the United States Air Force Academy, a Master of Philosophy (M.Ph.) degree in Political Science from The George Washington University (1999), a Master's Degree in Aeronautical Science (MAS) from Embry Riddle Aeronautical University (1986), and a Doctorate in Political Science (International Politics) from The George Washington University (2001).