Associate Magazine - FBINAA - Q3-2022

Continued from "Meet New FBINAA President Tim Braniff", on page 9

Most executive leaders are doing what they can, just to keep their own agencies sustainable, or afloat from decreased staffing, ever changing laws, rules, and regulations plus finding new innovative notions for better policing. Then, dealing with the “perceptions versus reality” in what law enforcement professionals need to do every day. The National Academy encouraged collaboration, and one of our key tenets experienced was networking. Unlike any other train ing, it was stressed through various opportunities of enrichment to network. These same concepts should be developed and used within our chapters. I understand a lot of our retirees are very active traveling, golfing, enjoying life, and I am hopeful everyone will experience retirement someday, but as an active NA Graduate, there is a different bond and relationship that should never die, no matter active or retired. Every effort should be made within each chapter to find ways to keep the flame lit involving our alumni, and what they have to offer. From a coffee clinch, barbeques, beer at the bar, excursions, or retirees’ executive panels, we need to share the wealth provided to us and pay it forward. Whether life-after with another career, or com pletely retired, we need to stay involved and keep the interest alive. In follow-up to that questions, how can the Association add greater value to our retired law enforcement members, in par ticular those who are still working but in the private sector? I have always stated, Association members of the private sector love to be involved, engaged, and supportive within their chapters or other chapters when they can. It is an opportunity for them to stay involved and connected. Whether you are looking for a speaker, subject matter expert, or individuals looking for a career change, we have a lot of NAA members finding new opportunities from current members who have joined the private sector. Chapters also need to take advantage of those individuals and their skillsets; they just need to ask. People are more than wel come to take the time to share their insight, and support, but often are never asked. So, a short answer is ask and collaborate. What do you think it is about the FBINAA that keeps it so relevant within the law enforcement community and the bond that NA grads have towards they session mates? Similar to current trends in our society today and the law enforce ment arena, we have continuous transformation of newer gradu ates, becoming heavily involved in their chapters, providing new innovated ideas and policing concepts. Those same newer gradu ates mixed with our experienced senior graduates form some of the same comraderies, bonds and pledges we all experienced going through the National Academy. It makes for a stronger Association as time moves forward. I also think for most, the experience of having gone through the National Academy, you have an opportunity to meet people from all walks of life who have a lot of similarities, ideas, philosophies, concepts, and styles. Knowing you can sit down, have a beer, share and ex press opinions, differences, yet keep a strong bond with each other is essential to a stronger relationship. You don’t see that with other institutions, associations, or organizations. As a membership organization, what is the distinct thing about the FBINAA that makes enforcement executives want to dedi cate and volunteer their time?

I believe it is a sense of loyalty to the Association and personal ex periences from what we all went through. It is a worthwhile Asso ciation, and the return on the investment is tenfold in many ways. It is a carryon from what we learned and experienced in Quantico, and it is an avenue to continue making a difference. We all want to belong to a mission-driven organization, and I believe this is intrinsic for most of us, otherwise we wouldn’t be in the public safety business. Nothing is taken for granted by being involved, active, and immersed in our chapters, which allows us to make sure we continue to drive the Association north. But, I know we can always do better. As the new President, how do you perceive the Association's role in supporting our members during these global/national events that we have all seen in the last few years? The validity and sincerity of our involvement in any global or national event will always consider our Association and its members first. We need to be the voice of reason, strength, and compassion, especially when building and maintaining support for our international chapters. We are never going to have the same viewpoint of the who, what, and when to support or not support an issue or political incident. In the first place, as a non-profit, we are limited on our involve ment into various national and international issues. We will not make decisions in a vacuum, plus we will make sure we are providing an educated balance to the issue or topic at hand when we need to provide support. Should we get involved or have an opinion, it will be weighed and balanced to ensure it is the right course of action for the right reason. It’s been discussed in the past that the FBINAA has a “Seat at the Table” on key law enforcement initiatives. What does this mean? We need to continue to demonstrate that our Association is reli able, valuable, involved, active, and training new ever-changing law enforcement professional leaders. First, let us make sure the table is big enough, not only for our Association, but ensure we are inclusive to all applicable organiza tions, associations, groups, and agencies. It needs to be balanced, not too big losing sight of the intended outcome, and not to small, where we are making micro decisions focused on a single outcome or objective based on a few ideas and thoughts. We cannot look through a straw restricting our abilities trying to find the end result, we need to pull away and look at the entire picture. Second, it is more than just having a representative attending a meeting, keeping the seat warm. It is providing critical feedback when asked; information, vision, and intuition of current training, trends, and best practices offered by our Association. We have a lot of smart and talented people in our office, on the National Board, and in our Association. Knowing when and how to apply the knowl edge, skills, and abilities with a balanced approach is critical to our success and shaping the entire law enforcement profession. Congratulations on being named president of the FBINAA. It has to be a great honor to be chosen to lead the organization. Ohmy, I am truly blessed and humbled…the significance of those that came beforeme and led the Association and those that will follow, I amdedicated to this Association andwill continue towork tomake it better. I cannot thankmy family, friends, the Washington Chapter, andmanymentors who helped support me along the way.

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