HAMPTON ROADS — For the past eight weeks, citizens from around the area were invited to the FBI Norfolk Field Office for a behind-the-scenes look at all aspects of the organization as part of the FBI Citizens Academy.
Applications for the academy were due in December and those chosen to move forward underwent a background check and fingerprinting before being accepted into the program.
During the program, citizens from across the seven cities and the peninsula met with special agents from various task forces, spent time participating in hands-on activities, and went on tours of the gun locker and the FBI Norfolk lab.
Topics of discussion included violent crimes against children, gang crime, white collar crime, financial crime, the Joint Terrorism Task Force, public affairs, recruitment and counterintelligence.
The goal of the program is to pull back the curtain on what goes on in any given FBI Field Office around the world.
“The Citizen’s Academy offers community leaders an exclusive opportunity to gain insight into the FBI’s operations and mission. This program is aimed at fostering trust and strengthening the relationship between the FBI and the communities we serve. We invite engaged leaders to join us in meaningful dialogue about the FBI’s role in enhancing community safety,” Assistant Special Agent in Charge Michael Feinberg said.
Students also had the opportunity to visit the Chesapeake Police Department range, where FBI instructors showed off weapons capability to the class.
During the graduation ceremony on May 21, students were presented with certificates from the FBI for completing the course.
“I really learned a lot from this program. The willingness of the FBI to take questions and answer them without compromising investigations was really impactful. I walked away with a lot of new knowledge and a newfound appreciation for what the agents and analysts do on any given day,” a participant shared.
Graduates of the program are able to join the FBI Citizens Academy Alumni Association to continue to share the mission of community outreach. The graduates will also receive a full-day tour of the FBI’s training headquarters at Quantico in early June.
The next Citizen Academy will take place in 2026. Application information will be available on the FBI Norfolk website soon.