Shawnda Drummond
Special Agent
Charlotte Field Office

I began my career in 2004 as an FBI agent working counterintelligence matters in Washington, D.C. I later transferred to San Juan, Puerto Rico, where I was assigned to investigate violent crimes, among other violations. Currently, I am a polygraph examiner for the Charlotte Division.

Along the way, I have had many auxiliary duties, including digital extraction trained agent, crimes against children coordinator, crisis negotiation coordinator, child forensic interviewer, online covert employee, and airport/seaport liaison agent coordinator.

What does it mean to make room at the table? Why does it matter?

Making room at the table means listening to and hearing the voices of all those around us. My profession requires engaging with other agents, supervisors, and professional staff; law enforcement partners; victims; subjects; and the community. I listen the same way—regardless of a person’s age, socioeconomic status, gender, orientation, race, or creed. I am a public servant entrusted to uphold the Constitution and protect our citizens’ rights by enforcing the law. 

We, as special agents, cannot effectively do our jobs without eliciting information from others. If we only engage in meaningful conversations with certain people from certain backgrounds, we will never gain a complete and accurate picture of an issue and therefore can’t fully serve the people of this country. All of us need to carry this belief into our professional and personal lives. Fairness and freedom are only possible if all voices are heard. We have to make room for everyone at the table.

Shawnda Drummond: Charlotte Field Office