ASSOCIATE Magazine FBINAA Q3-2024

John Simmons THE HISTORIAN'S SPOTLIGHT Historically Speaking

W hen I assumed the role as National Historian, I said I hoped to not only report on historically significant people and events from our storied past but also those people and events occurring today that will become historically significant. Throughout this journey I also hope to discover and adequately articulate what attracts and retains our members – the best and brightest in our chosen fields. I, for one, strongly believe that passion plays a major role in our lifelong membership and participation in the FBINAA. Graduates were obviously passionate about their careers or else they wouldn’t have risen to a position where they became eligible to attend the National Academy. Their passion for success, lasting fellowship and significant achievement carried them through their time at Quantico. And their passion keeps them involved in this great association event after they’ve moved on from the law enforcement profession. What keeps members actively involved in their chapters even after they’ve retired or otherwise moved on from the law enforcement profession? And why do people lose interest in something they worked so hard to be a part of? Those are great topics for future discussions... What are your thoughts? Speaking of passion – and making history – I’d like to share the recent selection of our own Jason Epps , NA Session 255, as Bishop Coadjutor for Diocese of the Mid-South, International Communion of the Charismatic Episcopal Church. (Bishop Coadjutor means he assists the current Bishop and then succeeds the incumbent Bishop when he retires.) Father Epps served 20 years with the Peachtree, Georgia, Police Department. I am unaware of any other NA graduate serving in that high a capacity in any church denomination. Congratulations to Jason as he nears the time he will become the Bishop, currently slated for January 2026. Many of our members follow their passions in ways that contribute to their communities and help others. My dear friend Greg Olson , NA Session 174 and very active member of the Oregon Chapter, is one of those special people. Few people know that Greg is a regular blood donor. He gives blood every 56 days or so because his blood is special. It is missing a virus that most people have. Because of that uniqueness one pint of his blood can be used to support the life of three premature babies. This passion is also personal – Greg’s son was born premature... and is now 6’3”! Greg will surpass the 18-gallon mark this fall. Yes, folks, that is 18 GALLONS OF BLOOD! Talk about passion….. In a recent article I highlighted a graduate who attended when he was 30 years old and asked if there were others out there who were also that young. Say hello to Rick Beseler , who graduated from the NA Session 141 on June 14th, 1985. He retired on January 1st, 2017, as the Sheriff of Clay County, Florida, after 42 years of service. At the time of his attendance, he was a “slick sleeved” investigator with the State Attorney’s Office, 4th Judicial Circuit of Florida. Rick got a very early start in law enforcement as a result of the lowering of the Age of Majority in the State of Florida (from 21 to 18 years of age) in the early 70’s. He was among the first groups of teenagers to attend the police academy and became one of the youngest police officers in the country at age 19 in 1974. He served in patrol for five years before becoming a state investigator in 1978. Rick had 11 years of law enforcement experience when he was chosen to attend the NA in 1985. He fully

embraced his NA experience and upon returning home became an area representative for the Florida Chapter. He served as the Chapter President in 2005 and then as Chapter Historian until 2015. His service to the Florida Chapter spanned 25 years. One of his fellow rookie officers “back in the day” was our very own National Chaplain Mike Hardee! Rick nominated Mike to attend the NA. I truly appreciate Rick sharing his story – and learning he is only the second person I know of who was 30 years old when he attended the NA. Any others out there? The National Academy occasionally gets the attention of our Commander-in-Chief, but did you know we once had two Presidents speak to attendees at the same NA event? Presidents Eisenhower and Truman were at the Kansas City National Academy Section II Retrainer in the summer of 1966. This was also the 20th anniversary of the founding of the United Nations. Not all Presidential visits involve speeches and lots of planning. One Sunday midway through NA Session 220 in 2005, President George Bush strolled into the gym at the FBI Academy to do his cool down exercises. Imagine the surprise of those half dozen NA students who were also working out. President Bush visited with several fellow fitness junkies in the gym and posed for pictures. Wow! Finally, by the time you read this article the National Conference in Kansas City, Missouri, will be a wonderful memory for many of you. I sincerely hope it provided an opportunity to rekindle old relationships while recharging the passion that makes active involvement in this association so very special. As always, I encourage you to share your special memories with me at jsimmons@fbinaa.org. Also, I encourage you to reach out to those graduates who no longer participate in or maintain membership with the FBINAA. Encourage them to dig deep and find the passion they once felt for the NA. Active involvement in their chapter is critical for maintaining the strong voice and reputation our association enjoys. Historically speaking, of course...

John Simmons, FBINAA Historian

26 FBINAA.ORG | Q3 2024