// BLOG
March Alumni Update
March 13, 2012
Recent Events
The FBI Phoenix Citizens’ Academy Alumni Association (FBICAAA) conducted the following events this past fall:
• FBICA Alumni Range Day – On October 21, 2011, 100 FBICAAA members and guests were welcomed to the Range to hear the fascinating conclusion of “The Leesa Jo Shaner Cold Case” by Special Agent Danny Ralph (RET). Following the presentation, members and guests fired FBI weapons at the range and experienced the “shoot house”. The day wrapped up with a barbeque luncheon hosted by the alumni association.
• FBI HQ / Quantico Trip – On November 8-9th, ,2011, 15 Members enjoyed a tour of FBI Headquarters and the FBI Academy at Quantico. This year’s trip also included optional tours of the Capitol and the White House. Attendees dined with the Albuquerque Chapter at the National Press Club as well.
• CREST Program – On November 16th, 2011, the first portion of a CREST program for the National Association of Asian American Professionals (NAAAP) was held. The 25 attendees were provided background on the Phoenix Division by SAC Turgal and a presentation on Cybercrimes by a member of the Cyber Squad. This was the first of an eight part program with NAAAP. The FBICAAA is providing food and beverage and assisting the COS in logistics.
• Community Outreach: Financial Fraud – On November 30th, 2011, over 300 people attended the program “Exclusive Insights into an Epic Fraud–An Arresting Story of Madoff’s Unraveling” organized and hosted by the FBICAAA. The successful event was sponsored by RBC Wealth Management. The program featured a case agent from the Madoff investigation and presentations on significant Arizona enforcement matters from the Phoenix White Collar Crime Squads.
• Holiday Parties – The FBICAAA shared holiday season’s greetings at two parties, one in Tucson on December 12 and the other in Phoenix on December 14th, 2011. Board Member Jay Klosterman hosted one event at the kitchen showroom at the SubZero / Wolf Facility in Scottsdale for over 60 people and Jay Zucker hosted the Tucson event at The Maverick Live Country Club for nearly 40 members and guests.
• New Division Office Tour – Members of the Board of Directors of the FBICAAA were provided an advance tour of the new 217,000SF Division Headquarters building by the Division’s Administrative Officer. The FBICAAA donated 2 gas grills to the FBIRA, one for use in the new Phoenix facility and the second for use at the new Tucson RA office. The Phoenix Division relocated to the new office on February 1st, 2012. Tucson will relocate later in March.
• 20th Anniversary Citizens’ Academy Class – The 20th Anniversary Citizens’ Academy Class (Class of 2012) commenced on January 30, 2012. This year’s class was increased to 55 members at the direction of the SAC. The Citizen’s Academy is conducted concurrently in Phoenix on Tuesdays and in Tucson on Thursdays. There were nearly 2 applications submitted for each spot in this year’s class. The 20th Anniversary of the program will be celebrated at the Graduation Dinner to be held on March 28th.
Upcoming Events
• NAAAP CREST Program – “Crimes Against Children” March 5, 2012, 5:30PM – Subzero Wolf Showroom
• FBICA Class of 2012 Graduation Dinner – March 28, 2012 – Paradise Valley Country Club.
• 17th Annual FBIAA/FBICAAA Tournament for Heroes Golf Classic – April 13th, 2012 – Camelback Golf Club Padre Course www.tournamentforheroes.com
• 2012 FBI HQ / Quantico Trip – June 26-27, 2012 – Washington, DC.
• 20th Anniversary celebration fundraiser to be held late November 2012
Register Now for the 17th Annual Tournament for Heroes
February 9, 2012
Registration is now open for the 2012 Golf Tournament.
The Tournament will be held on Friday April 13, 2012, at the Camelback Golf Club Padre Course.
Please click here to register: Tournament Registration
Please click here for Sponsorship Information Sponsorships
See you on the Course !
FBICAAA
FBI PX CA CLASS OF 2012 SELECTED
January 11, 2012
The FBI has completed its selection process for the Citizens’ Academy Class for 2012. All applicants have been notified of their status. The application and selection process for the 2013 class is expected to commence in September of 2012. Questions should be addressed to the Phoenix Community Outreach Specialist, Jane Bjornstad.
SEPTEMBER UPDATE
September 20, 2011
Enduring Eyes
In May, the Southern Arizona tour of “Enduring Eyes – A Holocaust Remembrance” wrapped up a two month journey through Pima County with a reception at the Tucson Jewish Community Center. “Enduring Eyes” is the FBI’s Exhibit of Holocaust photographs originally given by the Anti-Defamation League to then FBI Director Louis Freeh. The reception was hosted by the Phoenix Chapter of the FBICAAA and corporate sponsor – RBC Wealth Management. Approximately 100 attended a series of presentations from Holocaust survivor, Wanda Wolosky and ASAC Annette Bartlette. The enormous logistical effort of moving the exhibit between nearly a dozen locations was coordinated between FBICAAA members and FBI staff. Several thousand people visited the exhibit during the tour. While the exhibit was at the Jewish History Museum, there was a special continuing education session held for about 18 Special Agents and staff on Civil Rights presented by ADC Hillary Rossman. Klara Swimmer, another Holocaust survivor, addressed the group regarding her personal experiences providing a deeply moving perspective for the attendees.
Brown Bag Luncheon Series
In August, Special Agent Adam Angst provided a unique look at the FBI’s Undercover Program to a group of 20 Tucson Alumni. In addition to relating interesting facts about the program, SA Angst provided background on the FBI’s efforts to protect agents working in undercover situations. One of the alumni attendees related a story of meeting SA Joe Pistone (Operation: Donnie Brasco) who sometimes still teaches at the FBI Academy. The Brown Bag Series will continue later this year.
Welcome to SAC Turgal
Also in August, the Phoenix Chapter hosted a welcome luncheon for SAC James Turgal who joined the Phoenix office in June. Over 60 community, religious, business and civic leaders joined Citizens’ Academy Alumni Association Members in greeting SAC Turgal and hearing his plans for the upcoming year while braving record summer temperatures.
FBIAA Memorial Fund
FBICAAA Phoenix Chapter presented a check in the amount of $12,000 to the FBI Agents’ Association Memorial fund to be used for families of fallen FBI agents. Special Agent Lance Kuhn and Supervisory Special Agent Dan McGee accepted the check on behalf of the FBIAA. The donation represents a portion of proceeds from the 16th Annual Golf Tournament for Heroes. Next year’s tournament is scheduled for Friday April 13, 2012, at the Camelback Golf Club Padre Course.
Fall Events
The FBICAAA Phoenix Chapter is planning several events this fall:
(1) October 22nd, 2011 – FBICA Alumni Range Day The highlight of every year is Alumni Range Day where members can get an update on important topics, fire weapons at the range and experience the “shoot house”.
(2) November 8-9th – FBI HQ / Quantico Trip – This year’s trip will include an optional tour of the Capitol arrange by Sen. Kyl and an optional Thursday tour of the White House. Dinner with the Albuquerque Chapter at the National Press Club is on Tuesday.
(3) November 16th, 2011 – CREST Program – In conjunction with the National Association of Asian American Professionals (NAAAP) will learn about the FBI’s roles in Protecting Civil Rights and preventing Human Trafficking. This is the first of an eight part program with NAAAP.
(4) November 30th, 5PM at the Montelucia Resort- “Exclusive Insights into an Epic Fraud–An Arresting Story of Madoff’s Unraveling” The event features a case agent from the Madoff investigation and presentations on significant Arizona enforcement matters from the Phoenix White Collar Crime Squads. Approximately 300 are expected at the event.
APPLICATIONS FOR CA CLASS OF 2012
September 1, 2011
The FBI has opened the application process for the FBI Citizens’ Academy Class of 2012.
Want to find out first hand how the FBI works? Hear how the Bureau tracks down spies and terrorists? Learn how to collect and preserve evidence? See what it is like to fire a weapon and put yourself in the shoes of a Special Agent making a split-second, life-or-death decision?
If you are a leader in your community, you just might be able to do that and more––through attending the FBI Phoenix Citizens’ Academy.
Who attends? Business, community, civic, and religious leaders. You must be at least 18 years old (with no prior felony convictions) and must live and work in the area covered by the Phoenix field office.
Who teaches? Special Agents in Charge, their senior managers, and senior agent experts.
For how long? Classes generally meet 9 times (eight on weeknights and one on Saturday) for three hours each session. The Tucson classes will be held on eight consecutive Tuesdays beginning January 31, 2012 and ending March 20, 2012. The Phoenix classes will be held on eight consecutive Thursdays beginning February 2, 2012 and ending March 22, 2012. The Saturday “Range Day” will be scheduled in March. The class of 2012 will include 30 students from Phoenix and 20 in Tucson. Applications are due by November 1.
The curriculum? Fascinating!
- Practical problems involving evidence collection and preservation.
- FBI jurisdiction and congressional oversight.
- Structure and operation of FBI field offices and resident agencies.
- Fingerprint, forensic, technology, training, and other services
- Policies and issues: ethics, discipline, communications, civil rights, and criminal trends.
- FBI Firearms and much more.
For more information and to download the application forms please visit http://phxfbica.org/the-academy/application-process/
THE APPLICATION PROCESS IS NOW CLOSED. PLEASE CHECK AGAIN IN SEPTEMBER OF 2012
WELCOME LUNCHEON ANNNOUNCED FOR SAC TURGAL
August 4, 2011
The FBICAAA will host a Luncheon on Tuesday, August 23rd, 2011, at Noon to welcome SAC James Turgal to Phoenix.
Luncheon details have been sent to FBICAAA members.
James Turgal Named Special Agent in Charge of the Phoenix Division
July 18, 2011
James Turgal Named Special Agent in Charge of the Phoenix Division
| Washington, D.C. July 18, 2011 |
Director Robert S. Mueller, III named James L. Turgal special agent in charge of the FBI’s Phoenix Division. Mr. Turgal most recently served as special assistant to the deputy director.
Mr. Turgal entered on duty as a special agent in March 1996 and was assigned to the Houston Division. He primarily worked organized crime and drug investigations and was a Bureau certified pilot. Mr. Turgal was promoted to supervisory special agent at FBI Headquarters in the Office of General Counsel, then the Counterterrorism Division. Within hours of the September 11, 2001 attacks, he developed the PENTTBOM terrorist “No Fly/Watch-List,” which later became the basis for creation of today’s Terrorist Screening Center.
In 2002, he transferred to the Cincinnati Division. He served as the chief division counsel, media spokesperson, and supervisory special agent of the Cincinnati and Dayton Joint Terrorism Task Forces, Cyber Crimes Task Force, and the division’s domestic terrorism, weapons of mass destruction, and aviation and surveillance programs.
Mr. Turgal returned to FBI Headquarters in October 2006. He was named unit chief of the Director’s Research Group with oversight for preparation of Director’s daily meeting, briefing, and presentation materials. After serving as unit chief, he was assistant special agent in charge of the administrative division at the Washington Field Office. He was responsible for the leadership of over 800 professional staff employees, supervision of three squads, and the financial management and daily operations and administration of the second largest field office in the FBI.
Mr. Turgal was born in Phoenix, Arizona. He earned his Bachelor of Science degree in business from Northern Arizona University. After undergraduate school, he received his Juris Doctor degree from the Thomas M. Cooley School of Law and a Master of Law from Georgetown University Law Center in the area of white-collar crime and securities fraud. Prior to working with the FBI, he was a partner in a Phoenix law firm.
FEDERAL LAW ENFORCEMENT MEMORIAL
May 31, 2011
A federal law enforcement memorial service was held on May 26th, at the FBI’s Phoenix Office to honor those killed in the line of duty from ATF, DEA, FBI, and U.S. Marshals Service. Acting SAC Robert C. Rudge, Jr. shared about the loss of friend and colleague SA Sam Hicks who was killed in the line of duty on November 19. 2008. The Agency Heads from USMS, DEA and BATF each shared personal remembrances of friends and associates who made the ultimate sacrifice in service to their country. The Honorable Chief Judge Roslyn Silver addressed the crowd of more than 200. The Federal Wreath was presented by Judge Silver and the agency heads. The FBINAA presented a wreath in memory of local law enforcement officers killed in the line of duty. The service was attended by FBICAAA President Chuck Matthews and VP Kenny Holmes.
Enduring Eyes – Tucson Reception
May 11, 2011
On May 5th, more than 100 guests joined FBI CAAA members, FBICA alumni, community leaders and FBI personnel to view the FBI’s Enduring Eyes Exhibit on display at the Tucson Jewish Community Center. The Event and a Private Reception were hosted by RBC Wealth Management and the FBICAAA. Also in attendance as special guests were 6 holocaust survivors. The packed reception enjoyed a welcoming introduction from ASAC Annette Bartlett followed by an emotional remembrance shared by Holocaust Survivor Wanda Wolosky. The Southern Arizona tour of the Enduring Eyes Exhibit has been viewed by thousands of Tucson residents and students. The Exhibit will be on display at two additional Tucson locations through May 15th.
New Web Site
May 10, 2011
We’ve been working on updating our website to get our members information in a new and exciting manner. Hop
e you like it!
