Keynote Presentations:

Executive Remarks and Update from the FBI Leadership
Executive Leadership Speaker to be announced

Warrior Mindset
Nick Lavery, Active-Duty Green Beret, United States Army Special Forces; Founder and CEO of Precision Components; Best-selling Author of Objective Secure: the Battle-Tested Guide to Goal Achievement

Using the Warrior Ethos as a framework, this presentation provides real world examples and a battle tested methodology to enable users to unlock resilience capacity and increase performance capability.

Bulletproofing Your Heart
Dr. Benjamin Stone, PhD, CEO, Sigma Tactical Wellness

There is absolutely no question that the number one killer of active and retired law enforcement officers and fire fighters is heart disease. The average age of a police officer who suffers a heart attack is 46, and the life expectancy of men and women in uniform is more than 22 years less than the general population. Published data shows that, between the ages of 55 and 60, the chance of a civilian dying from a heart attack is 1.6%. However, within populations of police officers and fire fighters, it is 56%. Join Dr. Stone for an in-depth overview of the early detection model, specific to public safety, that he and his team are creating in an effort permanently change these shocking statistics.

Use of Force Concepts and Analysis for Police Leaders “You Can’t Manage What You Don’t Measure”
Kevin Dillon, Principal, KFD Training and Consultation LLC

Use of force analysis, investigation and training is a complex continually evolving issue. This training session is designed for Police Leaders who review, report, instruct, or investigate police use of force incidents. The training will examine the most recent and up to date issues that specifically impact command level, training units, front line supervisors and internal affairs investigators concerning police use of force incidents. This workshop discusses curriculum design, use of force reporting, tracking and trending or investigating incidents involving police use of force encounters.

Fortifying First Responder Marriages Through Resilience
Doug Monda, Founder, Survive First
Karen Monda, Executive Director, Survive First

In Fortifying First Responder Marriages Through Resilience, attendees gain practical solutions to common challenges faced by first responder couples. This training addresses issues like communication breakdowns, stress-induced strain, and unpredictable schedules, offering actionable strategies to enhance relationship resilience. Attendees will benefit significantly, acquiring tangible tools and insights to strengthen their marriages within the unique context of first responder professions. The presenters’ expertise is rooted in addressing mental health and relationship challenges within the first responder community, ensuring an understanding of the specific issues affecting these marriages. With extensive experience in delivering engaging and informative presentations, the presenters combine subject matter expertise from real-life experience with effective communication skills, inspiring positive change in participants’ lives. This training synthesizes professional knowledge and personal insights for a distinctive and valuable learning experience.

Chasing High Performance and Resiliency
E.J. O’Malley, Instructor, Physical Training Unit, FBI

This lecture will be laser focused on the health of our LEO’s that money can’t buy. What we inherit loads the gun. Our choices determine our path.  We will dive deep into the physical, mental, and technical arenas. No finish line. We only expect relentless competitive effort and are always under construction!

Breakout Presentations:

Reputational Crisis Leadership: Prevention Strategies to Response
Julie Parker, CEO, Julie Parker Communications
Christopher Mannino, Vice President, Julie Parker Communications; Chief (Ret), Park Forest Police Department (IL); FBINA Graduate – Session 237

In a climate where local law enforcement challenges can swiftly gain global attention, Reputational Crisis Leadership: Prevention Strategies to Response is specifically crafted for senior law enforcement leaders by a retired chief of police and a former Emmy award-winning TV news reporter and anchor and PIO for two major police departments. This training sharpens crucial skills in preventing, mitigating, and managing reputational crises. Through real-world examples, this engaging training underscores leaders’ pivotal role in crisis prevention by addressing internal culture, policy, and practice, along with maintaining public trust through effective communication during crises. From proactively shaping the police department’s culture to mastering internal communications and public messaging, this training equips leaders with a diverse toolkit. Participants will depart armed with effective strategies to avert negative spotlights and respond adeptly when challenges arise, helping to better safeguard law enforcement’s reputation in the court of public opinion.

“I Hate Your Job”- Managing Marriage and a Law Enforcement Career
Chief Paul LeBaron, Hermosa Beach Police Department (CA); FBINA Graduate – Session 261
Rachelle Zemlok, Psychologist, Cordico/Lexipol

The state of an officer’s most intimate relationship can either strengthen or weaken their personal resilience. When officers have a healthy and supportive relationship, it equips them and their partner with the ability to better navigate the stressors and traumas that are intrinsic to their high-stress career. This workshop is designed to confront and tackle the unique challenges that police officers face in their intimate relationships, due to the nature of their careers. The workshop will combine clinical insights from a psychologist and first responder spouse specializing in law enforcement marriages and practical, real-life experiences from a chief of police. This dual perspective provides many insights into why law enforcement officers frequently face a set of common difficulties when it comes to their marriages. It will also delve into very specific and effective strategies that officers and their spouses can immediately utilize that are grounded in empirical evidence.

Caught on Camera: Viral Video Survival
Philip Rizzo, Captain (Ret), J. Harris Academy of Police Training (NJ)

We spend hours drilling officers on defensive tactics, firearms, use of force and more. All of these areas are vital to ensuring officer survival. However, are you preparing them for the encounter that can go viral on social media and potentially end their career and destroy the agency’s reputation? Now more than ever, communicating effectively with the public is an essential function of law enforcement. Every encounter has the potential to end up on social media. Today, EVERY officer and member of the professional staff is a PIO. Words said in the heat of the moment can destroy an officer’s career and affect the department’s image, brand and reputation. It is time to prepare our personnel for the inevitable and ensure success in this critical element of public engagement.

Financial Resiliency-Wellness and Resources
Judy Pollard, Business Development Manager and Certified Credit Union Financial Counselor, Justice Federal Credit Union

We understand that today’s law enforcement is more complex than ever before. We realize that you are facing a growing array of challenges, opportunities, and threats in your day-to-day operations. This stress can also be compounded by one of the biggest stressors in our personal lives today: financial uncertainty. Just as your mental and physical wellness on the job is important, financial wellness is equally important. Participants will learn: How True Wellness Changes Lives, Addressing Uncertainty Understanding differences between Financial Literacy, Financial Wellness and Financial Resiliency The Importance of the Pause Increasing Your Financial Resiliency Reducing or Eliminating Debt Empowering Yourself Resources and Real Stories Summary.

Law Enforcement Medicine: An Evidence Based Expansion of Tactical Medicine
Dominique Wong, Emergency Physician, Cabell Huntington Hospital

Law enforcement is a dangerous profession with medical concerns for both officers and the public they serve. Dr Wong will expand beyond tactical medicine to provide evidence-based medical insight into the leading causes of preventable law enforcement death, discuss common medical concerns of law enforcement and address medical issues encountered during law enforcement interactions with the public. She will provide practical ways agencies can address these concerns to save lives and foster positive community relations.

Preparing for the Unpredictable: Communicating in Crisis
Gail Pennybacker, Instructor of Communications, Leadership Education Unit, FBI Academy, Quantico
Ken White, Instructor, Leadership Education Unit, FBI Academy, Quantico
Brought to you with support of the FBI National Academy

It’s the event you hoped would never happen and now it has. The world is watching and ready to hang on your every word. There’s so much at stake but how can anyone really be prepared to communicate in a critical criminal case? FBI Instructors, Ken White and Gail Pennybacker have spent more than a decade researching mass casualty and law enforcement crisis. Their findings provide a solid foundation upon which to build a communication strategy in a news conference.

Balancing the Badge to Make a Difference; What Every Law Enforcement Professional Should Know about Managing Money and Life
Lieutenant Jim Kalinowski, Houston Police Department (TX); FBINA Graduate – Session 176

Departments across the country train police officers through academy training and years of in-service schools to perform their police duties; however, they do not de-program employees for retirement. The training is about preparing attendees for retirement both financially and emotionally. The training is about transforming law enforcement personnel to embrace the concept of Balancing the Badge because a purpose driven retirement is critical for law enforcement survival. Provide tools to balance achieving financial and life wealth including discussions on social security, Medicare, investments and estate planning. Demonstrate that building a life portfolio is as important as building a financial portfolio. Provide attendees options of how to test drive retirement plans by developing ideas before actually retiring. Provide case studies to estimate how much money may be needed to retire and how long funds may last. Provide wellness solutions to retirees who have suffered setbacks including depression, addictions, and marital issues.

Emerging Technologies in Law Enforcement
Jason Mitchell, Associate Director, Frontline Crisis Response
Matt Brungardt, Senior Manager, Frontline Crisis Response
Chris Sanders, Senior Manager, Frontline Crisis Response

There are specific use cases like traffic investigation, search and rescue and others that require First Responders to use different solutions that provide enhanced and improved situation awareness. During this presentation, the Verizon Frontline team will showcase specific use cases, benefits and capabilities that Team Awareness Kit (TAK) and drones have to offer in helping the First Responder community perform their daily job functions effectively and efficiently. The use of Drone technology is becoming increasingly common among Law Enforcement and First Responders to assist in their day to day responses. Protecting and serving has always been challenging and that’s still true today. That’s why law enforcement agencies around the country are investing in Drone solutions to assist their personnel in the situations in which they most frequently engage.

Leading Through Crisis
Piro George, CEO, Piro Global Services

Effective leadership is the ability to create a vision for a desired outcome, while inspiring others to maximize workforce results. Great leaders not only know their people but help them reach their potential. A key element for success is creating a positive environment that brings the best out of the workforce. At some point every law enforcement leader will face crisis from active shooter, officer involved shooting, to a terrorist attack. Regardless of the circumstances, a crisis is a time of intense difficulty, stress, and complexity. There will be no one perfect way to remedy the problem, no easy path toward recovery. In the face of a crisis, quick action can keep a crisis from escalating into a disaster. This training will focus the importance of a well-developed plan, how to maintain effective communication while leading with compassion, and the management of the post crisis internally and externally.

Sensory Awareness Training for Law Enforcement
Chief Brad Flynn, Helena Police Department (AL); FBINA Graduate – Session 245

One in five individuals in the US have some type of sensory issue, whether it be autism, PTSD, early onset dementia, or other psychological challenges. I am also the father of son with a very rare genetic disorder and Autism, and know very well what challenges sensory needs individuals face daily. From the inability to verbally communicate with first responders, to the fact that things such as emergency lights, loud radios and sirens, and even the smell of vehicle exhaust can cause them to have a sensory overload and make the interaction with the individual that much more difficult to resolve. The goal of this is to create a safer world not only just for my son, but for all of those living with these invisible disabilities. With KultureCity, we have developed a program for first responders that has already been key in saving lives across the country, including one by my own agency less than a week after we completed our training. I would like to share this training and my personal and professional experiences with my fellow FBINAA members in the hopes of raising awareness and ensuring the safety of our most vulnerable citizens.

Empathy and Action: Unraveling the Tragedy of the Mass Shooting in Farmington, New Mexico – May 15, 2023
Deputy Chief Kyle Dowdy, Farmington Police Department (NM); FBINA Graduate – Session 273
Chief Steve Hebbe, Farmington Police Department (NM)

This training will cover the mass shooting in Farmington, New Mexico by an 18-year-old high school senior. During a presentation on the mass shooting in Farmington, New Mexico, on May 15, 2023, it will address a range of topics to provide valuable insights and promote meaningful discussions on the issue of mass shootings and the hidden injuries to the officers, their families, and the Department. Key points included are 1) Understanding the Tragedy; 2) The Role of Law Enforcement in Society, 3) Law Enforcement Training, 4) Community Engagement; 5) Mental Health and Prevention, 6) Collaboration and Preparedness, 7) Support for Victims and Survivors and 8) Moving Forward.

Prove It! The Future of Synthetic Media (AI) Detection in Justice and Public Safety
Trey Amick, Director, Technical Marketing and Forensic Consultants, Magnet Forensics
Steve Gemperle, Forensic Consultant, Magnet Forensics
Brandon Epstein, Chief Forensic Officer, Medex Forensics

Tom Cruise performing magic tricks on TikTok, the Pope wearing Balenciaga, foreign leaders declaring acts of war … the prevalence of high-quality synthetic media online has brought a new age of disinformation and distrust to society. While a distinct concern, how does this relate to evidence admissibility in criminal investigations and legal proceedings? What is the true threat to public safety? This training will address the real concerns with synthetic media as it pertains to law enforcement and forensic examiners who have to authenticate evidence for court. The training will address not only the detection of synthetic or altered media but methods to prove when video files are real. Reliable, explainable, and repeatable techniques for the examination and authentication of video evidence will be introduced. The training will also discuss how to deploy these techniques at scale and integrated into an overall digital forensic examination.

FBI National Academy Update
Brought to you with support of the FBINAA and FBI National Academy
Jeff McCormick, Executive Director, FBI National Academy Associates (FBINAA)
Executive Leadership, National Academy Unit, FBI

This training will highlight the present state and the future directions of the FBI National Academy Program. Discussion of recent achievements as well as expected near- and long-term directions of the National Academy Program will be shared and discussed. These include, but are not limited to, programmatic considerations, curriculum growth and change, current and future partnerships, as well as evolving post graduate opportunities. Lastly, input from attendees will be sought as to possible avenues that both the FBI and the FBINAA may wish to consider in the future.

The Delicate Balance Between Public Safety and Free Speech
Chief Linda Stump-Kurnick, University of Florida Police Department (FL); FBINA Graduate – Session 181

When alt-right activist Richard Spencer with the National Policy Institute (NPI) held a speaking event on the University of Florida campus (immediately following the fatal events of Charlottesville, VA), the UF Police Department was responsible for balancing free speech rights with campus safety and security. Approximately 450 tickets were sold for the event in the Phillips Center for the Performing Arts, and on Thursday, October 19, 2017, an estimated 2,500 people rallied outside of the venue. Despite the controversy surrounding the speaker, there were no significant injuries or property damage, and only two people were arrested. UFPD Chief Linda Stump-Kurnick, an FBI National Academy and Harvard Kennedy School graduate, will be sharing the lessons she learned regarding civil unrest, protests, and marches through her 20 years of experience as a Chief of Police at a large land-grant university, including the key factors she identified as influencing the success of the Richard Spencer event.

Driving on Empty: Supporting Tired Cops to Improve Safety and Performance on the Roadways
Brett Cowell, Program Manager, National Policing Institute
Major Sean Moriarty, Delaware State Police (DE); FBINA Graduate – Session 263
Stephen James, Assistant Professor, Washington State University

Policing requires officers to be awake at all hours, and combined with staffing shortages and increased operational demands, the job leaves many cops chronically fatigued. The problem is that fatigue is a major risk factor for motor vehicle collisions and compromises critical decision-making capacity. This training will discuss fatigue-related risks and explore how executives can implement restorative rest and fatigue management policies to improve the safety and performance of their officers. Panelists will include Dr. Stephen James, a sleep and performance expert from Washington State University, and Major Sean Moriarty (FBI National Academy graduate, session 263), Delaware State Police, who will identify and discuss agency approaches to supporting tired cops. This training is provided as part of the National Law Enforcement Roadway Safety Program, supported by the Bureau of Justice Assistance.

Below 100
Thomas Dirlam, Below 100; FBINA Graduate – Session 225

Below 100, is a nationwide initiative aimed at reducing line-of-duty deaths to “below 100”. Below 100 is not just about statistics, it’s about every officer, trainer, and supervisor taking individual and collective responsibility for the decisions and actions which contribute to safety. For leaders this means promoting a culture of safety throughout their department and making doing the right thing so ingrained it becomes the norm, as well as holding accountable those who stray through courageous conversations. The training focuses on “Five Core Tenets” all under the officer’s control; 1) Wear your Belt2) Wear your Vest3) Watch your Speed4) W.I.N. – What’s Important Now5) Remember; Complacency Kills! In many line-of-duty deaths at least one of these tenets is violated.

Amplifying Community Policing Through Mental Health Service Collaboration
Sergeant Robert McKeirnan, Olathe Police Department (KS)
Jessica Murphy, Deputy Division Director of Emergency Services, Johnson County Mental Health

Police departments across the country are embracing Community Policing Programs to engage their community and build partnerships with the people they serve. Many departments are also pursuing solutions to the overwhelming numbers of mental health related calls for service their officers are facing. This training will teach you about two COPS Office grant funded programs that do both. These programs produce wide scale positive interactions with citizens, increase real partnerships with service organizations, and show the community your department cares deeply about them. Olathe Police Department added several programs to their Advanced Crisis-Intervention Team through the COPS Office CIT Expansion grant in 2022. Two of these programs are RECCAPS (Repeat Emergency Caller Community Assisted Problem Solving) and OPTICS (Olathe Post Trauma Incident Care and Support). RECCAPS has reduced or eliminated calls for service with some of the most frequent emergency system contacts while OPTICS provides support for citizens that have experienced a recent traumatic event the department was involved in. You will learn how Olathe built the partnerships, runs the programs, how they impact the community, and how you can scale them to your agency.

Officer Health, Wellness and Fitness
Chief Stephen Petrilli, Normal Police Department (IL); FBINA Graduate – Session 264

This content is science based and focused on first responders. This training will take on an often-difficult subject like health, wellness and fitness and make it easy to understand and accessible to all attendees regardless of their age, or fitness level. This training will provide fact-based information and debunk the numerous nutrition, health and wellness “fads” that exist. It will empower attendees with science-based information to make positive changes to their nutrition, fitness, and overall health. Attendees will leave this training session with the knowledge and resources to have better informed conversations with their personal physicians and ultimately become the best advocates for their own health optimization. This training is designed for administrators / supervisors as well as line staff. This training is interactive and will take a commonsense approach to explaining the subject of health, wellness, and fitness. The training will cover in detail – not vague suggestive terms – how to build a successful wellness/fitness program for individuals as well as how to integrate a positive wellness culture into the fabric of the organization. Topics include insulin resistance, inflammation, heart health, disease prevention and how they are related. Attendees receive coaching to help them understand their own blood work and how it relates to overall health optimization. Nutrition instruction will discuss in detail what to eat and why for reduction in bodily inflammation and health optimization. Macro nutrient based nutritional protocols will be an area of emphasis during training instruction. The science of how proper nutrition protocols directly relate to improved blood health markers, disease prevention, insulin response, hormonal health and reduction of bodily inflammation will be discussed at length. The importance of adequate sleep, stress reduction, hydration and recovery are also topics that will be addressed during the training. This training is changing the lives of first responders across the country.

Walk, Run, Then Fly: How DNA and Genetic Genealogy is Transforming 21st Century Crimefighting and Leadership is More Critical than Ever
Major Ed O’Carroll (Ret), Fairfax County Police Department (VA); FBINA Graduate – Session 269
Stephen Busch, FBI (Ret), Indago Solutions
Stephen Kramer, FBI (Ret), Indago Solutions

In 2018 the global criminal justice and public safety community witnessed the power and impact of Forensic Investigative Genetic Genealogy (FIGG) when Joseph DeAngelo, also known as the Golden State Killer, after eluding law enforcement for 30 years, was arrested and prosecuted in Sacramento, California. Five years later, over a thousand cases have seen resolution with FIGG but more needs to be done and role law enforcement leadership plays is more critical than ever. This training will cover a few high-profile criminal cases solved using FIGG and walk through the strategy of making forensic DNA work for law enforcement agencies. The crime fighting community is walking with DNA now, the path has been laid so we can run. This group of seasoned law enforcement leaders and investigators will discuss how we can collectively take flight, figuratively speaking, with DNA and the amazing power of FIGG.

Weathering the Unthinkable: Leadership Challenges Following a Line of Duty Death
Thomas Wells, Chief (Ret), Springdale Police Department (OH); FBINA Graduate – Session 236

Weathering the Unthinkable recounts our journey through the unchartered waters of a line of duty death. When Police Officer Kaia Grant became the first officer at Springdale PD to be killed in the line of duty, it led the department down a path of emotional and professional upheaval. Only 33 days into his time as police chief, Tom Wells explains the many paths and challenges that were faced and the fallout created; not only by her death, but also the looming COVID-19 pandemic and the subsequent affect that George Floyd’s murder had on the profession. The story is much more than the night Kaia was killed but encapsulates the journey of recovery over the next year and how the department matured by working together and supporting one another through the most difficult days it had collectively experienced.

When Leaders Speak, Captivate Your Audience
Captain Scott Macallair, Higher Wire Leadership Development (MD); FBINA Graduate – Session 273
Captain Jennifer Macallair, Higher Wire Leadership Development (MD); FBINA Graduate – Session 281

The ability to lead successfully begins with the competencies of effective communication. From presentation to content, our program will engage students in a dynamic, entertaining, and informative training that affords them an opportunity to strengthen their communication skills as they apply a variety of proven techniques and strategies. We will examine the impact of non-verbal communication, speech cadence, and proactive messaging to enhance leader’s confidence and earn the trust of those they serve. Too often we have all witnessed rank without substance, through this training the student will be challenged to explore the behaviors and subconscious thoughts that impede their growth while gathering the skills to overcome those obstacles. This training is not a lecture, it is guaranteed to engage and entertain the audience as we balance humor with humility in a proven husband and wife format that allows the audience to identify with the content.

Recommendations from the Critical Incident Review of the Mass Casualty Incident at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas
Nazmia Comrie, Senior Program Specialist, US DOJ COPS Office
Chief Kristen Ziman (Ret), Aurora Police Department (IL); FBINA Graduate – Session 249
Frank G. Fernandez, President, Blueprints 4 Safety Strategies Group; Police Chief (Ret), Miami Police Department (FL); FBINA Graduate – Session 275
Mark Lomax, CEO, Lancer Cobbs; FBINA Graduate – Session 200

On May 24, 2022, an active shooter took the lives of 19 children and 2 staff members, and physically and mentally injured the survivors, the families, staff and teachers, and the community in Uvalde, Texas. At the request of Uvalde leadership, the U.S. Department of Justice established the Critical Incident Review (CIR) to conduct an independent, objective assessment of what happened that day and assess the systems in place in the weeks leading up to May 24. The goal of the CIR is to provide information to those most affected by the tragedy and to build knowledge regarding how to best respond to incidents of mass violence. This panel will present observations and recommendations from the CIR report in the areas of tactics, leadership, incident command, coordination, school safety, emergency management, public communications, pre-incident and post-incident processes, and trauma and support services.

Developing a Dedicated Use of Force Review Unit: Review, Analysis, Data Collection, and Training
Lieutenant Matthew Botterbusch, New Castle County Division of Police (DE)
Sergeant Sean Ryan, New Castle County Division of Police (DE)

This training will examine how to create a cutting-edge Use of Force Review Unit dedicated to accurate data collection, analysis, and training based on the thorough examination of every use of force incident within an agency. We will explore the relationship between human perception, the technical aspects of video evidence, and reveal the limitations and distortions they both present. This will establish the difference between the subjective officer’s truth and its relationship with the objective case facts which will uncover an honest account of the incident. This in turn, will aid in the development of policies, innovative strategies, and improved outcomes through proactive evidence-based human factors training and guidance to enhance officer performance.

Life Beyond the Badge: Leveraging One’s Experience and Interests to Maximize Your “Second-Act”
Daniel Hoffman, Principal, Hoffman Consulting; FBINA Graduate – Session 225

While it is somewhat unfortunate, the sad truth is that many highly-skilled and accomplished law enforcement practitioners, managers, and executives critically undervalue the breadth of their accumulated experience, failing to examine potential opportunities and map-out effective transitional plans that could open new and exciting doors in their future. In this training, retired police chief, risk manager, and author Daniel Hoffman illustrates the importance of preparing for one’s retirement from active law enforcement, formulating effective strategies designed to take full advantage of one’s accumulated skillsets, abilities, and passions.