ASSOCIATE Magazine FBINAA Q3-2026

NATIONAL ACADEMY UPDATE

Rebecca Vassilakos Unit Chief

S eptember 30, 2026, marked a historic moment for the National Academy as we welcomed the 300th session. As we reflect upon the 91-year history and impact of the National Acad emy, we also look to the future and consider how to maintain our mission to provide senior law enforcement leaders with transfor mative developmental opportunities that build partnerships and promote excellence in policing worldwide. Recently, the National Academy staff implemented several exciting updates. Three notable examples include: • 300 x 300 – For only the third time, the National Academy in creased the session size by 33 students and therefore processed 300 applicants for Session 300. This change was made to help meet the demand for greater access to the National Academy. The FBI Academy recently gained available training space with the opening of our new High Performance Training Center and the shift of select FBI training courses to Huntsville, Alabama. As such, the National Academy is expanding our footprint once again. Students are divided into six sections, with no more than 50 students each. Each section serves as a student’s homeroom and their Wellness and Fitness in Law Enforcement class. • Assistant Special Agents in Charge (ASAC) /Senior Supervisory Resident Agent (SSRA) Participation – For the first time in Na tional Academy history, FBI supervisory special agents attended Session 299 as students. At its origin, the National Academy was designed as a train-the-trainer course focused on standard izing police tactics. Because tactics were part of FBI new agent training, special agents did not attend the National Academy. However, over the past 91 years, the purpose of the National Academy has evolved into a leadership development program. Given today’s mission, FBI leaders are poised to benefit greatly from the holistic National Academy student experience. Moving forward, the National Academy will accept up to four supervisory special agents per session. These applicants will be subject to component of the change process, especially since implement ing new ideas can often feel daunting. Prioritize transparent communication with both peers and front-line staff to secure buy-in and foster trust. Remember, trust is the currency of leadership; without it, meaningful progress cannot be achieved. Employ data analysis and evidence-based practices to evaluate how proposed changes will affect those you lead. As a leader, all initiatives should aim to enhance operation al efficiency and strengthen trust within both the agency and the broader community. When pursuing meaningful and lasting changes, it is essen tial to communicate frequently and to establish clear goals and timelines. Ensure that individuals responsible for implementing new initiatives are provided with the necessary training and resources to succeed under updated protocols. Effective leaders actively seek and encourage feedback from personnel, inviting suggestions, and addressing any concerns that may arise. In law enforcement, it is vital to foster an environment of psychologi continued from "To Make Lasting Change, Start Small" page 29

the same application process as all students, in addition to a rig orous internal nomination process. Applicants must be serving in a field office as either an assistant special agent in charge or as the supervisor of a field office resident agency. • Uniform Refresh – In direct response to student feedback, the National Academy is refreshing the classroom uniform. The physical fitness uniform was updated in 2022 with performance fabric black shorts and a moisture-wicking shirt in an olive-green color. However, the current classroom uniform of a dark green polo shirt with khaki tactical pants has been in place since 1995, when the polo shirt color shifted from red. Starting with Session 300, the National Academy introduced an optional soft-shell jacket in olive green as a replacement for the dark green fleece jacket. In January 2027, the dark green polo shirt will transition to an olive green that matches the new soft-shell jacket. Thank you for your feedback and for helping us continue to keep the National Academy growing to meet the needs of law enforcement leaders today. cal safety, where every member feels empowered to speak openly and contribute input. Our experiences at Quantico demonstrated the value of collaboration and diverse perspec tives; it is important to recognize that future leaders within your agency possess similar potential to improve processes and facilitate successful change. Ultimately, the individuals we develop today will continue to shape the future of law enforcement leadership. By concentrating on the changes within your control, you can avoid the frustration that often accompanies attempts to transform an entire agency at once. Initiating small, targeted improvements can ultimately yield significant results. Too often, we become discouraged by factors beyond our influence, rather than channeling our efforts toward areas where we can make a meaningful scale, it is imperative to begin with deliberate, incre mental ac tions. Over time, these efforts will become embedded within your agency’s culture and set a standard for future gen erations of law enforcement professionals. By concentrating on

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30 FBINAA.ORG | Q3 2026