FPC/FBI 102 Series of Briefings/Tour of FBI Academy - Quantico, Virginia

June 19, 2007, Quantico, Virginia
Contact: Washington Foreign Press Center Program Officer Algis Silas
Telephone: 202-504-6317; Email: silasa@state.gov

The Washington FPC in coordination with the Federal Bureau of Investigation's Office of Public Affairs (FBI), arranged for a series of briefings for foreign journalists representing seventeen countries - Australia, Brazil, China, France, Germany, India, Japan, Korea, Kuwait, Norway, Portugal, Russia, Slovenia, Spain, Taiwan, Turkey and Venezuela.

FBI expert speakers and special agents spoke on-the-record and provided a presentation and an overview of the FBI Laboratory focusing on chemical analysis, forensic photography, nuclear and mitochondrial DNA, Combined DNA Index System (CODIS), human hairs, fire arms and tool marks, latent prints, shoe prints, microbial forensics, radiological/nuclear WMD, response units and violent crimes.

Journalists had a walking tour of Quantico Training Facilities which included an overview of the FBI Training and Development Divison, Simulated City known as "Hogan's Alley," classrooms, gymnasium, library, FBI Special Agent training, FBI National Academy for Domestic and Foreign Police Officers.

FBI briefers provided an overview of the Critical Incident Response Group (CIRG) which is comprised of the Strategic Information Operations Center, National Assets Response Unite, Bomb Data Center, Hazardous Devices Response Unit, Crisis Negotiation Unit and the Hostage Rescue Team.

Journalists were able to ask questions of all the speakers and came away with a better understanding of how the FBI functions and prepares FBI special agents and foreign security personnel in a post 9/11 environment.