Good morning, and thank you Tim. It is an honor to be here. It is good to see so many of our partners in federal, state, and local law enforcement. Thank you all for joining us as we dedicate FBI Louisville’s beautiful new building.

Having had a chance to tour the new space, I am doubtful that any of you will request a transfer to Headquarters anytime soon. Actually, I am thinking of requesting a transfer to Louisville.

Kentucky is home to “the fastest two minutes in sports.” In that spirit, I will keep my remarks brief. But first, I would like to recognize some of the many individuals who guided this project every step of the way.

• I am delighted that Paul Prouty, Acting Administrator of the General Services Administration, is with us today, along with many members of his team.
• A special welcome to Mark and David Harris, from M.L. Harris Company, who have now built four FBI field offices.
• My thanks to Pat Findlay, head of our Facilities Division, and his entire team.

And to everyone who worked so hard to make this building a reality: thank you all for your patience, your professionalism, and your perfectionism—all of which are on display behind me.

The Louisville office was permanently established in June of 1935. The main challenges to law enforcement at that time were bank robbers and violent gangsters, who made a habit of crossing state lines to evade local law enforcement. This was captured well in the recent movie Public Enemies, though it is a safe bet that most of the real-life criminals did not look like Johnny Depp.

The threats we face today have changed dramatically. Today, the agents, task force officers, and analysts working inside this building investigate everything from cyber crime to organized crime; from public corruption to espionage; and from violent gangs to terrorism.

As threats have evolved, so has our approach to law enforcement. It has become clear that no one agency, community, or even country can prevent crime and terrorism on its own. We must sit at one table. We must work as one team. This new building allows us to do just that.

Constructing a facility like this presents unique challenges. Perhaps a better word might be headaches.

We did not just need more room for us to work—we needed more room for our partners in state and local law enforcement to work. We did not just need more physical space—we needed more secure space. And we did not just need basic technological capabilities—we needed strong, secure technology to help us meet our mission.

Within these walls, we have all that, and more. And to top it off, this office is a “green” building, certified with a “Silver” rating by LEED, through the U.S. Green Building Council.

FBI Louisville employees used to be scattered across different floors and even different parts of the city. With nearly triple the space, there is now room for all of them in this building.

Better still, there is room for many of our state and local partners. Officers assigned to the Louisville Joint Terrorism Task Force and several criminal task forces can now call this building home.

There are now thousands of square feet dedicated to training our partner agencies, in everything from computer forensics to evidence response to firearms.

The agents and analysts of the Louisville Field Intelligence Group can now collect, analyze, and disseminate intelligence from a secure space.

Our new command post will give us the ability we need to run high-profile or complex investigations from a single point.

In short, this building gives us the room we need to train for our mission, and to accomplish our mission.

But it is important to remember that this building, though beautiful, is merely bricks and mortar. The men and women of the Louisville Division, and all our partners, are its heart. Without you, there would be no reason to dedicate this office.

And so I want to thank you for your service and sacrifice. You are the reason we are meeting today’s challenges. Your fidelity, bravery, and integrity make the FBI a special place in which to serve.

Whenever the safety and freedom of the American people have been threatened, law enforcement has answered the call. The history of the Louisville office shows us the FBI will do whatever it takes to defend our citizens and secure our freedoms. It is more than our history; it is also our future.

As the threats continue to change, and our enemies continue to adapt, so will we.

And like this new building, the FBI is stronger, more flexible, and more modern—able to rise to any challenges that lie ahead.