ASSOCIATE Magazine FBINAA Q2-2025

NATIONAL ACADEMY UPDATE

FBINAA.ORG | Q2 2025

Rebecca Vassilakos Unit Chief

A cross my 20-year FBI career, I have witnessed the impor tance of partnerships and how we are all better when we work together, which is one of the many reasons I am pleased to introduce myself as the new unit chief for the FBI's National Academy (NA) and Law Enforcement Bulletin. While I am still learning about the NA's rich 90-year his tory, I am struck by the strong partnerships involved as well as by the depth, breadth, and distinctions of the program. Given they could attend any one of the many prestigious leadership development programs at top institutions across the country, law enforcement leaders choose the NA for three main reasons: • First, this program is designed for law enforcement leaders by law enforcement leaders. We carefully tailor our content, learning, and enrichment activities specifically for our profession. • Second, a main tenet of the program is building partnerships. As a residential program, it provides a unique environment and opportunity to develop and grow a global law enforcement leadership network. After spending 10 weeks eating, sleeping, studying, and exercising while pushing each other to collectively grow everyone’s leadership capacity, NA students graduate together as trusted confidants and friends. Moreover, the relationships formed here make a tangible law enforcement impact. Just in this last session, a pair of roommates worked together to make a significant discovery in a case, resulting in an arrest. • Third, the NA involves a co-created experience among the staff, instructors, and students. Since my arrival, I’ve been constantly impressed by the amazing NA staff and instructors who work tirelessly to select the top talent in law enforcement leadership, bring students together in a session, provide the structure to empower them to succeed, create enriching experiences, and ensure they have access to cutting-edge learning. Their efforts and commitment to the program are unrivaled. Students are responsible for the rest. They create bonds, support each other, and share their knowledge and expertise both informally in the hallways and cafeteria as well as by offering formal presentations about cases, threats, and international law enforcement practices. The students also organize and plan educational extracurricular activities such as museum tours and host social events.

Students’ success in owning their part in cocreating the NA experience is in large part due to their ability to stand on the shoulders of NA graduates who came before them, such as the members of the FBI National Academy Associates. The guidance and encouragement NA students receive from alumni on how to prepare and make the most out of their time at the NA is critical to their success. We at the NA value your continuing commitment to connect with new students and sharing your wisdom. I look forward to continuing to build upon the great work already done by NA alums, and to growing our partnerships. We are all better when we work together.

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