Two hundred sixty law enforcement officers graduated December 14, 2012 from the FBI National Academy Program at Quantico, Virginia. The 251st Session of the National Academy consisted of men and women from 49 states. Included in the class are members of law enforcement agencies from the District of Columbia, 29 international countries, four military organizations and six federal civilian organizations.
Internationally known for its academic excellence, the National Academy Program, held at the FBI Academy, offers 11 weeks of advanced investigative, management and fitness training for selected officers having proven records as professionals within their agencies. On average, these officers have 19 years of law enforcement experience and usually return to their agencies to serve in executive-level positions.
First Sergeant Tom McKee, assigned to the Indiana State Police Criminal Investigations Division was one of the graduates. First Sergeant McKee, a 19 year veteran of the Indiana State Police, has worked out of the Lafayette Post his entire career. He worked Montgomery and Fountain Counties after graduation from the Indiana State Police Academy in 1993. He took a lateral promotion into the criminal investigation division in 2001 and was a detective until being promoted to Investigative Squad Sergeant in 2004. In 2009, McKee was promoted to First Sergeant and serves as the District Investigative Commander. First Sergeant McKee is also the Team Leader of the North Region Hostage Negotiation Team. He is married and his family currently resides in the Lafayette, IN area.
Training for the program is provided by the FBI Academy instruction staff, Special Agents and other staff members holding advanced degrees, many of whom are recognized internationally in their fields of expertise. Since 1972, National Academy students have been able to earn undergraduate and graduate credits from the University of Virginia due to the accreditation by the university courses offered.
A total of 46,342 graduates now represent the FBI National Academy since it began in July 1935. Of this number, approximately 28,829 are still active in law enforcement work.
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