ASSOCIATE Magazine FBINAA Q3-2026

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FBINAA.ORG | Q3 2026

Our history is a long and proud one. Lest we forget those who preceded us, whether it was in the halls of the U.S. Depart ment of Justice in Washington, D.C., or the building on Quantico Marine Corps Base, or in our current location. Each year during the National Training Conference I am vividly reminded of the strength of our Association, of the bonds we all make during and after attending our respective sessions and the value of member ship. God Bless the FBINAA and its leadership, National Staff and members! James T. Sheehan, Captain, Boston, Massachusetts, was President of that first class and thereby became the “first” President of the Alumni Association that was formed with that graduation. Later that year, after the Third Session, the now 81 graduates of the Academy formed “The FBI Na tional Police Academy Associates". Lt. James B. Nolan of the New York City Police Department became the first presi dent. The Third Session also saw the name of the school changed to the FBI National Police Academy. The “Police” was dropped from the name in 1944, when the title was changed to The FBI National Academy.

John Simmons FBINAA Historian NA Session 215

Figure 1

Arnie Daxe Jr. (top), President Richard Nixon addressing NA Session 83 at the East Room of the White House. (bottom)

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That's especially true for our senior retired members, who I believe still have so much to give and so much to gain from staying involved. They carry institutional knowledge, wisdom, and context that can help us work through the law enforcement challenges we're facing right now — problems that, more often than not, someone in that generation has already navigated in some form. At the same time, membership still benefits them, particularly through resources like the FBI National Academy Associates Foun dation, which can step in with financial support when it's needed. These members have a lifetime of experience and they still have real value to offer. Our responsibility is to keep re-engaging with them so the Association stays strong for everyone — not just our currently working members, but the entire family we've built over the decades.

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