FBI National CAAA Fall 2018 Newsletter
The White House Initiative on Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders Regional Holiday Luncheon was held on December 07, 2018 in Los Angeles. The lunch was attended by leaders of AAPI community, Kay Ko of the FBI, LAPD Assistant Chief Robert Arcos, and Congresswoman Judy Chu. Kay Ko and her hard work was admired by the Congresswoman and others who were attending the Holiday Luncheon. Board member Adnan Khan represented the FBI LA CAAA at the event. He had a chance to speak with Congresswoman Chu highlighting the hard work that the Los Angeles office of the FBI has done holding meetings with Asian Americans at the Federal building and also praising Kay Ko for facilitating the meetings between FBI and Chinese Americans and all AAPI members.  
 
THE FBI LA CAAA was invited to attend the SFSAFBI (Society of Former Special Agents FBI) Holiday Lunch on Dec. 7th, 2018, Granada Hills Ca.

Stephanie Zimbalist, star of the TV series Remington Steele who is the daughter of the late Efrem Zimbalist Jr.from the TV series FBI was in attendance and played a recording from the her early childhood of her father singing a Christmas Carol in his native Romanian language. This event supports the US Marines Toys for Tot toy drive and the FBI LA CAAA was honored to attend.

The Marine Honor Guard from Pasadena, CA were present along with Lynn Hylen and Jamal Khawaja, both alumni and chapter president. They were joined by current and past SACs,  ADICs, and ASACs along with many retired Special Agents.
 
Fall 2018
Greetings, 
 
The 2018 FBINCAAA National Leadership Conference was an amazing and special event that returned us to the city that hosted our very first FBINCAAA conference. With approximately 250+ in attendance, we spent 2 1/2 days living out the theme of being “Committed to Excellence” by participating in more training and networking than previous conferences, and by hearing FBI case studies like the Las Vegas Mandalay Bay Mass Shooting and the Crystal City Public Corruption investigations.
From the awards night in which several surprise trophies were awarded to various chapters for their programs and valued service to the FBI and their individual communities, to the best practices, chapter success stories, and brand standards sessions, to face to face regional chapter meetings, the overwhelming feedback was that chapters and individuals celebrated our service to others, learned more about how best to support the mission, and connected to their fellow chapter attendees to share fresh ideas and information that could be brought home to improve outreach and governance opportunities.
While challenges remain, and there is much to do to serve the mission and honor the letters FBI that accompany our organizations’ names, I am grateful to serve with such dedicated and caring people who value others and make such a positive difference.
In service,
Kevin Jensen
President
FBI National CAAA Leadership Conference
2018 FBINCAAA Leadership Conference: Committed to Excellence
 
The beautiful city of San Antonio, Texas played host to the 2018 FBI National CAAA Leadership Conference thanks to the board and members of the FBI San Antonio CAAA and their local FBI Field Office. More than 250 alumni and FBI personnel from across the country attended the conference, which was held September 5 – 7 at the Hyatt Regency San Antonio located on the city’s historic River Walk.
The theme for this year’s program was Committed to Excellence. Attendees were treated to expert speakers who delivered insights, ideas, best practices, and resources that chapter leaders can put into action to develop and maintain growing, healthy chapters with engaged members. More information about the programs and links to resources will be highlighted in an upcoming Conference Special Edition newsletter. You can also find information in the members-only section of our website.
Keynote addresses included a briefing on the Mandalay Bay Mass Shooting in October 2017 (delivered by FBI SSA Jose Perez and FBI Public Affairs Officer Sandy Breault) and an overview of the Crystal City Public Corruption case. The speakers for that address were FBI San Antonio ASA Robert Krupa, SSA Charles Arnold, and Task Force Officer Daniel Zamora.
We are appreciative of the many, many hours devoted to the 2018 National Leadership Conference by the conference planning committee. A deserving round of thanks go to Kevin Jensen (San Francisco), National President and Chair of the Conference Committee, Alicia Wadas (Phoenix), Kathie Wylie (New Orleans), Phil MacDougall (Sacramento), Sandy Mangold (Las Vegas), Amir Elsayed (San Antonio), Todd Silberman (San Antonio), Elva Adams (San Antonio), Pedro Gonzalez (San Antonio), and Rosanne Hughes (FBI San Antonio COS).
Watch for the 2018 National Leadership Conference Special Edition Newsletter to learn more about the conference as well as content and resources that will be made available to all chapters. We’ll also highlight the 2018 Award Winners.
Many Thanks to Our Conference Sponsors
We are grateful to the sponsors who made the 2018 Conference possible: silver sponsors 100 Club of San Antonio, FBI San Antonio CAAA and Justice Federal Credit Union; and sponsors American Solutions for Business, SymbolArts, Rasport, Shelton Advertising, AccuPrint, FBI Milwaukee CAAA & Chapter President Mary Carmen Villasenor, and the Center for Personal Protection and Safety. Thank you for your support.
Disaster Relief Support
FBICAAA Chapters Step Up to Support Disaster Relief Efforts 
The FBI National Citizens Academy Alumni Association is clearly defined as a nonprofit organization separate and apart from the FBI. But inherent in our use of the letters is the understanding that when needed by the FBI we are there to answer the call in whatever way we can. Here’s what some of our chapters have been doing.
LA and San Diego Chapters Answer the Call
The Los Angeles and San Diego FBI Citizens Academy Alumni Associations came together to provide food and drink for lunch and dinner for as many as 125 command post investigators and staff in Orange County, California.
On May 15th, a powerful explosion ripped through an office building in Aliso Viejo, a town located between Los Angeles and San Diego, California. National President Kevin Jensen was in a meeting with the FBI Los Angeles SAC and the Los Angeles CAAA when he learned of the tragedy and the need for meal provisions. Kevin immediately contacted National Executive Director Sandy Mangold. Sandy confirmed the details of the needed support with the FBI Los Angeles SAC and then contacted San Diego CAAA President Mark Johnson who assigned Gary Bobileff and Sheri Sachs to the support team. The local focal point for this effort was Los Angeles CAAA President Michael Waiters. The team reached out to friends, colleagues and associates. Working together and with Los Angeles COS Kate Gulotta, the LA and San Diego Chapters within 24 hours came up with all the required meals and delivery logistics. Gary Bobileff even set up a grill to barbeque some of the donated chicken. Local businesses such as COSTCO, Newport Meats, Subway, Chic-Fil-A, and Café Rio answered the call for donations.
Houston Chapter Offers Aid
 
At the same time as the California efforts were underway, on May 18th in Houston, Texas, the FBI Houston CAAA stepped up when a shooting occurred at a Santa Fe (Texas) High School. Santa Fe is a town just southeast of Houston. It was reported that ten people, mostly students, were killed and a number of others were wounded in this incident. Chapter President Cathy Baker and Vice President Andy Schmidt and the Houston CAAA team worked with Subway and the HEB grocery chain to provide all meals for the investigators and staff, thus allowing them to focus on the job at hand.
As an FBI spokesperson pointed out “Food service is a critical component to the health and welfare of investigators and staff. It is often overlooked during the initial critical response hours. It gives the first responders the fuel and energy to continue, especially when their bodies say otherwise.” This type of support is always essential to maintaining a healthy work team, thus aiding them in getting the critical job done.
Kudos to the LA, San Diego and Houston Chapters for answering the call to service, and doing a great job on very short notice.
Chapter Highlights
Opioid Crisis Town Hall in Atlanta
 
This past May, the Atlanta Chapter partnered with the FBI Atlanta Field Office and GPB TV to host an informative and eye-opening Town Hall addressing the ongoing Opioid Crisis in Georgia. The forum was broadcast live from GPB TV. Panelists included Georgia’s Attorney General, Commissioner for the Department of Public Health, and Director for the state’s Drug & Narcotics Agency, as well as Special Agents from both the FBI and DEA. The program provided a tremendous opportunity for Georgians to learn more about the opioid crisis, its contributing factors, and the plan to address and mitigate the 117% increase in opioid related overdose deaths that Georgia saw between 2010 (425 deaths) and 2016 (929 deaths).
Public forums like this serve an important role in helping to create an informed citizenry that can make informed choices and reduce the rate of growth in fatal events stemming from opioid use.
Birmingham Alumni Tour FBI Hazardous Devices School
 

 

Alumni from the Birmingham Chapter toured and had a briefing at the FBI Hazardous Devices School, a training center that trains all of the United States public safety bomb technicians at the federal, state and local level. The facility is home to a sprawling 455-acre campus complete with classrooms, explosive ranges, and mock villages that include a train station, apartment complexes, a movie theater, and a strip mall. Here, bomb technicians from public safety departments across the country are trained in the exact same way, so that when a crisis arises, coordination among different teams is seamless as all are using the same playbook.
FBI personnel John Stewart, Kelly Boaz and Rebecca Miller provided briefings on the school’s mission, teaching and recertification processes, as well as on threats to public safety. Several members of the Birmingham Chapter have assisted the program by role-playing as hostages during training exercises.
Miami Chapter Sponsors 
FBI Youth Academy
 

 

The 2018 FBI Youth Academy was held June 11 – 16 at Miami Dade College. The program, which is sponsored by the FBI Miami CAAA, attracts students from across the state of Florida with the majority from Miami-Dade, Broward and Palm Beach country schools. This year’s academy also accepted a student from Maine. The FBI Youth Academy affords students a once in a lifetime opportunity to engage with FBI agents, law enforcement officers, forensic experts, and university professors for the purpose of fostering academic excellence, leadership sills, team building, and career exploration.
Now in its 11th year, the FBI Miami CAAA has presented over 500 scholarships to students accepted into the academy.
View a video of the program at this link: Miami FBI Youth Academy.
Norfolk Chapter Hosts 9th Annual Law Enforcement Symposium
 
More than 200 federal, state and local law enforcement professionals attended the FBI Norfolk CAAA Chapter’s 9th Annual Law Enforcement Symposium this past spring. This annual event presents an opportunity for law enforcement professionals in southeastern Virginia to hear timely subject matter presented by expert speakers as well as build collaborative professional relationships across their respective agencies.
Topics ranged from Using Technology to Mitigate Active Shooter Threats to Resiliency in Law Enforcement to Unmanned Aerial Systems to an FBI briefing on the 2016 New Jersey/New York Bombings. FBI Norfolk SAC Martin Culbreth greeted the law enforcement community and SA Michael Freeman served as moderator for the day. Attendees received DCJS credits for participation.
The program, which has grown in attendance every year since it began, will celebrate its 10th anniversary in April 2019.
Omaha Chapter Learns About Pulse Nightclub Shooting
 

 

FBI Omaha CAAA hosts an annual speaker series designed to give alumni an inside look at crime prevention and solutions undertaken by the FBI. The house was packed for the Chapter’s first program in 2018, where SSA Scott Thorlin gave two riveting presentations in Des Moines and in Omaha on the critical incident response to the Pulse Nightclub shooting in Orlando, Florida in 2016. 
 
SSA Thorlin serves as the squad supervisor for the terrorism squad of the Orlando Joint Terrorism Task Force and was instrumental in the investigation and response to the event. His depiction of how the incident unfolded offered a rare look at a mass shooting from an investigative point of view, and his explanation about who and how some survived was thought provoking and invaluable to attendees. The Chapter looks forward to more FBI speakers showcasing their expertise to alumni.
Retired FBI SA Max Noel Speaks in San Antonio
 
FBI San Antonio CAAA members had the honor and pleasure of hosting Retired Special Agent Max Noel to speak about the capture of Ted Kaczynski, the infamous Unabomber. Attendees were on the edge of their seats during two 3-hour presentations.
The Chapter thanks Dr. Molly Beth Malcolm with Austin Community College, and Bobby Lane and Mike Funk with the University of Texas Health Science Center for providing the meeting venues. Thanks also to Etta Moore with the 100 Club of Central Texas and Richard Miller with the 100 Club of San Antonio for the food and refreshments.
They are especially appreciative of Retired SA Max Noel for traveling to Austin and San Antonio to give back-to-back presentations and for his willingness to stay afterwards to interact with attendees.
Feeding the Homeless in Denver
Given growing concerns about the connection between crime and vagrant populations, the Denver Chapter of the FBI Citizens Academy Alumni Association wanted to address the issue at its core. The Chapter partnered with Impact Locally to engage in positive interactions with Denver’s homeless population and serve as citizen ambassadors for the FBI to meet a real need in the community by bridging the gap between the homeless and law enforcement. In May, Chapter members worked with Impact Locally to assemble 1,100 sack lunches in 40 minutes for distribution to the homeless.
Many thanks to the alumni who volunteered to assemble and distribute lunches for the homeless, and sacrificing a Sunday afternoon to make a difference.
Buffalo Chapter Sponsors Active Threat Control Workshop
 

 

FBI Buffalo CAAA sponsored a two-day Active Threat Control Training Workshop for FBIBCAAA board members and alumni, and participants from non-profit and cultural organizations including the Buffalo Museum of Science, Buffalo History Museum, Shakespeare in Delaware Park, Kleinhans Music Hall and Boys and Girls Clubs of Buffalo, whose participation was made possible by a grant from the Baird Foundation.
The workshop was facilitated by professional educator and author Steve Tarani, who has served the U.S. Defense, Law Enforcement and Intelligence communities for over twenty-five years as a protective programs subject matter expert. The program provided a combination of lecture and light physical skills training designed for the average citizen concerned with personal security and the security of family members.
Milwaukee Chapter Hosts Unsung Heroes Awards Program
FBI Milwaukee CAAA hosted its third annual Unsung Heroes Awards Ceremony in June2018 at the Italian Community Center in Milwaukee. Twenty-four first responders and five community members were honored for going above and beyond the call of duty. Among those honored were St. Francis Police Department’s K-9 Officer Bane and his handler, Police Officer Holly McManus. Milwaukee Police Officers and award recipients Ken Walkowiak and George Schad are pictured with Judge Derek Mosely.
The FBIMCAAA also presented checks to the St. Francis Police Department for their K9 unit and to the Racine Fire Department toward the purchase of a utility terrain vehicle. 
Over a Decade of Volunteerism 
in New York City
 
For more than 10 consecutive years, FBI New York CAAA members have volunteered for the Achilles International Hope & Possibility 4-miler and 1-miler in Central Park on the last Sunday in June to support athletes with disabilities. This signature event brings together the not-for-profit’s various programs: the Achilles Freedom Team (wounded military service men and women), Achilles Kids, and Achilles chapters from the eastern U.S. as well as international athletes. FBINYCAAA volunteers served as course marshals, medals presenters, cheering section leaders, and photographers. In making sure the athletes with disabilities and guides completing the 1-mile course had a well-attended and joyous finish line, FBI Explorers made a huge difference that day.

“We could not have a more reliable and helpful volunteer partnership than the one we have with the FBI,” says Dick Traum, Achilles founder and CEO. “Year after year, they are here for us.” The mission of Achilles International is to empower people with disabilities to take part in mainstream running events in order to promote personal achievement.

Philadelphia Chapter Event Draws More than 90 Attendees

The Philadelphia Chapter hosted an event on the investigation and prosecution of the previous DA of Philadelphia, Seth Williams.  More that 90 people representing alumni, community leaders and FBI Agents were in attendance.  Pictured from left to right: AUSA Vineet Gauri, Secretary FBIPCAAA Andrew Edelman, SA Vicki Humphreys, SA Jennifer Zenszer, President FBIPCAAA Justin Drew, FBIPCAAA Board member Cheryl Rice-Moore, FBIPCAAA Vice President Rocky Brown, and FBI Senior COS Tanya Jeter.

 
FBI Director Christopher Wray Visits with Minneapolis Alumni
Director Wray has been making the rounds across the country to visit with FBI agents and staff, as well as law enforcement and community partners. During a stop at the Minneapolis Field Office, he also met with FBI Minneapolis CAAA alumni who posed a question as to how they could support the FBI special agents and staff who skillfully and professionally perform their jobs day after day, and were advised that sending thank you notes to field offices, units and special agents would be very much appreciated.
In response, the Chapter started an initiative where alumni write thank you emails to the FBI. Emails are sent to FBI Community Outreach Specialist (COS) Kathy Hotakainen, who forwards them to the right units, staff and supervisory personnel.
Alumni are planning to send more thank you notes around Thanksgiving and in early 2019, and hope other chapters will join in to thank their respective field office teams.
Learning About Gun Safety in St. Louis
 
 
This summer, the FBI St. Louis CAAA, with the help of board members Christy Moreno (Treasurer) and Norm Appelman (Life Membership Chair), held a Gun Safety event at The Range in Ballwin, Missouri. Of special interest was a talk from the Ballwin Chief of Police. Chief Scott addressed how his team proactively engages with the communities they serve, and how that approach has improved the quality of interaction with community members as well as the effectiveness and morale of the police force. The meeting concluded with opportunities for the attendees to participate in SIMULATOR or LIVE shooting exercises.
Learning about the use and importance of gun safety was clearly a benefit, as Norm Appelman shared an incident that he experienced while training with the US Army Air Force at Keesler Field in Biloxi Mississippi. A soldier on the line thought his gun had misfired, so he changed the gun’s position in his hand from a downrange position to a sideways position to get a better look. The gun went off and narrowly missed fellow soldiers standing to his left. “Instructions were brief, but I remember one very clearly. Do not point your firearm at anyone unless you intend to use it.”
FBI NEWS AND RESOURCES
FBI Oregon Addresses Tech Support Fraud
The Oregon FBI has a regular Tech Tuesday program that addresses techniques for building defenses against cyber criminals. A recent segment covered Building a Digital Defense against Tech Support Fraud.
The focus was on one method that fraudsters use to target victims through social media posts. The danger comes with people offering you tech support for your computer, phone, or other digital device. This is a scam in which the fraudster tries to convince you that you need help fixing a usually non-existent problem. New information has come to light that these culprits often are targeting victims through social media posts.
One example given was where one victim was having trouble with her computer and posted a question on the computer manufacturer’s Facebook page. Soon after that, she received a call from a man identifying himself as a tech support employee for that company. She gave him remote access to her computer, and that’s where the real trouble started. He claimed her problem was with software on the computer and he would just need a small payment to update her system. He would only take payment with a credit card. By the end of the encounter, the fake tech support worker had tried to charge several thousand dollars to her credit card, and had accessed her email, bill pay system, and PayPal account while he had control of her computer. He also opened a Western Union account in an attempt to send multiple wire transfers.
Some tips offered to help keep yourself and your digital devices safe included:
  1. Don’t post personal information, including your phone number or email address, on a public website or social media platform. If you need help with a problem on your device, contact the company in question directly.
  2. Remember that legitimate customer, security, or tech support companies will not initiate unsolicited contact with you.
  3. Do not give unknown, unverified people remote access to your devices or accounts.
  4. Ensure all computer anti-virus, security, and malware protection is up to date.
If you have been victimized by an online scam or any other cyber fraud, be sure to report it to the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center at www.ic3.gov or call your local FBI office.
FBI Announces Honors Internship Program
The FBI will be accepting applications for the 2019 Honors Internship Program beginning August 24, 2018 and closing October 14, 2018.
The FBI Honors Internship Program is a paid internship program (contingent upon available funding and commensurate with their education level). It is open to undergraduate, graduate or higher level students and runs for 10 weeks beginning in June and ending in August. Interns will work side-by-side with FBI employees. Applicants must be enrolled in and attending a college or university full-time. The student is responsible for all expenses incurred as a result of the internship.
FBI Internships offer undergraduate and graduate school students throughout the United States an exciting insider’s view of FBI operations, and provide an opportunity to explore the many career opportunities within the Bureau. Interns will be assigned to FBI field office locations or FBI Headquarters in Washington, D.C.; the FBI Academy in Quantico, Virginia; the Criminal Justice Information Services Division (CJIS) in Clarksburg, West Virginia or other off-sites. Internship applicants are drawn from a wide range of academic areas.
For full program requirements, students who are interested in applying should visit www.fbijobs.gov, create a profile, and submit their interest to the Honors Internship Program – Summer 2019 posting. The FBI Internship Programs are highly competitive. FBI representatives will schedule interviews with the most competitive candidates based on academic achievements, area of study, life/work experiences, and the current needs of the FBI.
The FBI is an equal opportunity employer and supports workforce diversity and inclusion. The FBI actively seeks women, minorities and persons with disabilities for participation in all FBI Internship Programs. To obtain more information regarding the program, check www.fbijobs.gov for updates.
IN MEMORIAM
SAC David J. LeValley
FBI Atlanta Field Office
FBI Atlanta SAC David J. LeValley died on Saturday, May 26 (Memorial Day Weekend) from cancer linked to exposure of airborne toxins and contaminants over the many weeks he spent at Ground Zero following 9/11.SAC LeValley was a Marine, a police officer, and an FBI Agent for 22 years. He served as Special Agent in Charge of the Atlanta Division since November 2016, having previously served as SAC of the Criminal and Cyber Division at the Washington Field Office. From an FBI Atlanta Division Press Release “Mr. LeValley’s death is a great loss to the entire FBI, but particularly to his family, the FBI Atlanta Division and the Atlanta community. We are honored to have served beside him and are grateful for his leadership and sacrifice.”