ASSOCIATE Magazine FBINAA Q1-2026

O ne of the greatest benefits of being a member of this Association is our ability to expand our reach beyond our own relatively small worlds. Most NA graduates boast about the professional and personal growth they gain through interaction with fellow grads. Our NA collective doesn’t end on graduation day. Rather, it expands with each chapter retrainer and annual training conference we attend. It also expands whenever we find ourselves in need of something from some place outside our daily sphere of influence. We’ve all benefitted from the NA network, whether it was to work a lead in a distant jurisdiction or to help find a decent restaurant or hotel at a new vacation spot. As the National Historian I remain truly humbled every time I get an opportunity to speak with fellow graduates. I recently received a phone call from Oregon Chapter’s Greg Olson , NA Session 174. Greg is exceptionally well connected to almost everything worth knowing about...and this call was classic Greg. He told me about one of his session mates who was a chief of police, got downgraded to sergeant, attended the NA as a sergeant, went on to be a chief of police several times over and eventually became an actor. Humble Greg never exaggerates so I decided to do a bit more digging. John Simmons THE HISTORIAN'S SPOTLIGHT Historically Speaking

laws. Where did he get all those spare tickets, you ask? From his friends—the international students! Following graduation Mike returned to his department and endured nine months of challenges. His mayor made life difficult while Mike was at Quantico – holding paychecks, refusing access to mail, etc. Mike moved on to another agency and eventually became chief of three other different departments. He was wor ried his demotion and eventual departure from his first agency would make him less than successful in future pursuits. However, other cities understood what he was put through and his main taining the moral high ground was treated like a badge of honor. During his years as chief he completed his master’s degree and worked as an adjunct instructor at a local college. One of the programs involved travel abroad. He reached out to one of his international session mates in Berlin, Germany, and was afforded the royal treatment when he and a group of students visited that wonderful city. Mike wrote about this special visit in an article for this very same magazine back in 2008. Something very few NA graduates can claim is spending time as an actor. Mike has nearly two dozen roles to his credit. During one filming he had someone on set say, “Hey, Chief.” Mike’s escort asked him what that was all about. It ended up that the person had been one of his college students. The next day another person on set said, “Hello, Mr. Holub.” This person was a young, enlisted member of the National Guard. (Mike gave a presentation to this guy’s unit earlier in the week.) The set escort clearly understood Mike wasn’t just another actor! What Greg didn’t share was the depth of Mike’s involvement in our Association and the law enforcement profession. He served as the president of both the Northern Illinois (Chicago) Division and the Illinois Chapter of the FBINAA. He was also heavily involved in both state and regional police chief organizations, most of which were leadership roles. Mike’s time spent wearing an Army uniform prepared him to serve as a member of the Illinois Committee of Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve (ESGR). Since 2004 he has served more than 4,000 hours of volunteer service for which he was awarded the President’s Call for Service Award. I received a copy of Mike’s bio and realize I am just scratch ing the surface of an amazing success story. Many of us have en dured both professional and personal challenges due to political or ethical pressures. Mike is a poster child for adversity turned into success. Mike’s performance as a police chief, instructor, volunteer and actor truly deserves a standing ovation!

It is my distinct pleasure to introduce Mike Holub , NA Session, 174 from the Illinois Chapter. I had the pleasure of visiting with him at length in order to prepare for this article and yes indeed, he has quite the story...and an amazing biography! Mike was the police chief of a small town near Chicago when he was selected to attend the NA. Less than two weeks before Mike was slated to arrive at Quan tico, his mayor demoted him to patrol sergeant

on midnight shift! Apparently, the good mayor didn’t want Mike to get cozy with the FBI. The FBI learned of this roadblock and informed the mayor his city would be on the hook for the cost of a vacant seat should they disallow Mike’s attendance. Mike was ultimately allowed to attend NA Session 174, albeit as a sergeant. Mike and Greg made it their mission to do everything they could for the international students, most of whom arrived with few friends, little money and no means of transportation. Mike previously served with the U.S. Army’s 3rd Infantry Regiment (The Old Guard) at Fort Myer, Va., and still had connections with in the unit. Through those connections he was able to show the international students places like Fort Myer, Arlington National Cemetery and the Pentagon...to name a few. Mike said he smiled every day at the NA despite missing his family. He took advantage of the graduate level classes, which jumpstarted his working on an advanced degree. At graduation he enjoyed the presence of his wife, two sons, parents and in

24 FBINAA.ORG | Q1 2026

NOTE: To view Mike's acting experiences, click on this link. imdb.me/michaelholub