ASSOCIATE Magazine FBINAA Q4-2025

Sam Benson Unit Chief, Leadership Education Unit NATIONAL ACADEMY UPDATE Celebrating 90 Years of Excellence at the National Academy

F For 90 years, the National Academy has upheld a tradition of excellence in law enforcement education. I studied the National Academy curriculum, all the way back to the found ers, who created it long before the FBI Academy building was completed in 1972. One thing is clear: with every passing decade, the level of instruction and professionalism continues to rise. This current generation of instructors proudly stands shoulder to-shoulder with the giants who came before them. But how does an organization—one that experiences regular leadership transitions—maintain such consistent excellence? How has the Academy's standard not only endured but grown stronger?

Every instructor loves and respects their students.

That love is what drives excellence.

It comes down to who we recruit and why they stay.

It’s what inspires instructors to refine their content and deliver the highest-quality education.

During a recent instructor meeting, focused on evolving our curriculum for the future, I asked a simple question: “Why were you selected to be an instructor for the National Academy?”

It’s what motivates them to give their best, day after day— even when they’re tired. It’s why they volunteer their time outside of class for case study presentations, Sunday story sessions, battlefield walks, movie screenings, and even cornhole tournaments. It’s not just professionalism. It’s not just passion. It’s love. On behalf of the instructors at the National Academy—past and present—we want you to know: We support you. And the learning never stops. Policing and society, 26(3), 270-290. Goodman-Delahunty, J., O'Brien, K., & Gumbert-Jourjon, T. (2013). Police professionalism in interviews with high value detainees: Cross-cultural endorsement of procedural justice. JIJIS, 13, 65. Hope, L. (2024). Navigating Cross-Cultural Challenges in Rapport Building and Information Gathering: Preparing interviewers for effective interactions. Centre for Research and Evidence on Security Threats. Hope, L., Anakwah, N., Antfolk, J., Brubacher, S. P., Flowe, H., Gabbert, F., ... & Anonymous. (2022). Urgent issues and prospects at the intersection of culture, memory, and witness interviews: Exploring the challenges for research and practice. Legal and criminological psychology, 27(1), 1-31. Kim, S., Alison, L., & Christiansen, P. (2020). Observing rapport-based interpersonal techniques to gather information from victims. Psychology, public policy, and law, 26(2), 166.

The current instructors’ answers varied: “Growth mindset.” “Life-long learner.” “Commitment.” “Passion.”

All of these are true and certainly factor into the selection process. Additionally, from a historical lens there is one common thread that I’ve seen again and again over decades:—

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References Alison, L. J., Alison, E., Noone, G., Elntib, S., & Christiansen, P. (2013). Why tough tactics fail and rapport gets results: Observing Rapport-Based Interpersonal Techniques (ORBIT) to generate useful information from terrorists. Psychology, public policy, and law, 19(4), 411. Baker-Eck, B., Bull, R., & Walsh, D. (2020). Investigative empathy: A strength scale of empathy based on European police perspectives. Psychiatry, Psychology and Law, 27(3), 412-427. Beune, K. (2009). Talking heads: Interviewing suspects from a cultural perspective. Beune, K., Giebels, E., & Sanders, K. (2009). Are you talking to me? Influencing behaviour and culture in police interviews. Psychology, Crime & Law , 15(7), 597-617. Beune, K., Giebels, E., & Taylor, P. J. Look Who’s Talking!: Interaction Patterns in Police Interviews and their Cultural Dependency. Criminal Justice and Behavior. Beune, K., Giebels, E., & Taylor, P. J. (2010). Patterns of interaction in police interviews: The role of cultural dependency. Criminal Justice and Behavior , 37(8), 904-925. Brimbal, L., Meissner, C. A., Kleinman, S. M., Phillips, E. L., Atkinson, D. J., Dianiska, R. E., ... & Jones, M. S. (2021). Evaluating the benefits of a rapport-based approach to investigative interviews: A training study with law enforcement investigators. Law and Human Behavior, 45(1), 55. Chenier, K., Shawyer, A., Milne, R., & Williams, A. (2022). Police interviews with adult reporters of historical child sexual abuse: Exploring the link between verbal rapport and information obtained. Child Abuse & Neglect, 134, 105943. Dhital, R. (2023). Applying Hofstede’s Cultural Dimension Theory to Analyze Intercultural Communication Differences. Journal of Linguistics and Communication Studies. Goodman-Delahunty, J., & Howes, L. M. (2016). Social persuasion to develop rapport in high-stakes interviews: Qualitative analyses of Asian-Pacific practices.

About the Author: Emma Goldsby is a Research Fellow with the Behavioral Analysis Unit at the FBI, where she primarily researches mass attacks, targeted violence, and cyber-related topics. Emma earned a Master's degree in Security Studies from Georgetown Univer sity's Walsh School of Foreign Service and a Bachelor's degree in Political Science and International Studies (Arabic concentration) from the University of Kentucky. Prior to her current position, she worked on terrorism, international relations, and intelligence research at vari ous government entities and think tanks.

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