FBI PORTAL

In Spring 2006, Deputy Assistant Director Tom Harrington of the Federal Bureau of Investigation's (FBI) Counter Terrorism Division approached the Center in an effort to expand the counterterrorism training and research capacity of the FBI. Soon afterwards, the CTC began an extensive collaborative with the FBI.

The first effort in this relationship brought CTC faculty into the classrooms of the nation's premier law enforcement agency. The CTC developed a 2-1/2 day curriculum for FBI Special Agents and Analysts working on Joint Terrorism Task Forces (JTTF) across the country. From June to December of 2006, the CTC presented this course of instruction to JTTF's in the Seattle, Honolulu, San Juan, San Francisco and Boston Field Offices of the FBI.

Throughout the 2-1/2 day sessions, the CTC provided instruction focused on understanding Islam, identifying the roots of extremism, how terrorists use the internet, as well as the origins and practices of terror groups such as Al-Qa`ida, Hezballah and Hamas.

During each of these sessions, the CTC gained an appreciation for the challenges facing the FBI in defeating terror networks and helped educate leaders and investigators dedicated to countering future terrorist attacks.

Building on the JTTF program, the FBI’s Counter Terrorism Division looked to the CTC and West Point to host a Leadership Retreat in August 2006. Over the course of two weeks, the CTC hosted and provided instruction to every Special-Agent-in-Charge and Assistant-Special-Agent-in-Charge in all 56 Field Offices of the FBI as well as the leaders of the bureau's National Security Branch.