Transcripts For CSPAN Commencement Speeches Attorney General Barr Remarks At The FBI Academys... 20240714

At the fbi National Academies Graduation Ceremony in quantico, virginia. The current class is composed of 256 lawenforcement officials representing 49 states, the district of columbia and more than 30 countries. This is 45 minutes. Donald good morning. I am don alway, assistant director of the fbis Training Division here at quantico, virginia. Visitors, we are very happy to have you with us today. Members of the marine corps, fbi, dea and National Academy family, welcome home. I see we have several beautiful and peaceful babies in the audience. While all babies are beautiful, they are not always peaceful. There is a high likelihood they will get frustrated with us. Please stay with us, keep us in the audience. Theres a high likelihood theyll get frustrated with us. Please stay with us, keep us in the audience. Their voices remind us of why we choose this for a profession. Today, we have 213 kids in the audience, many of which are skipping school. [laughter] this is far too many to ask the director for an emergency waiver, their voices remind us of why we choose this for a profession. Today, we have 213 kids in the audience, many of which are skipping school. [laughter] this is far too many to ask for an emergency waiver, so when you get back home you may have to write a short report to avoid detention reminding your teachers why this is such a special place. Quantico is a crossroads of american history. The oldest artifact discovered here is a native american spearhead over 4500 years old. It was a historic path through quantico on which it is told that pocahontas was walking when she met the english in 1613. That road became part of a larger road that general washington used march the Continental Army down to yorktown to defeat the british and secure our future. That same road was used by soldiers in the war of 1812 and later Union Soldiers before and after the battle affect fredericksburg. The marines later marched down it is known as route 1 as they reported to quantico in 1917 to train and join general pershing in france to protect our friends and allies. In the last century and this one this has been a home, not only for the fbi, but for the marine corps, National Academy, and partners from the dea who have come here to prepare to protect the American People and uphold the constitution of the United States. This is a special place for many of us. To begin todays a ceremony, i ask that you stand for our National Anthem and remain standing for the invocation. O say can you see, by the dawns early light. What so proudly we hailed at the twilights last gleaming. Whose broad stripes and bright stars, through the perilous fight. Oer the ramparts we watched, were so gallantly streaming. And the rockets red glare, the bombs bursting in air, gave proof through the night that our flag was still there. O say does that starspangled banner yet wave. Oer the land of the free, and the home of the brave. [applause] eternal god, creator of us all, we live in two worlds, the one that is and the one that ought to be. In the world that is, injustice is routine, violence is ordinary, most refuse to get involved. In the world that ought to be, injustice is never excused, violence is never accepted, and no one stands idle while his neighbor bleeds. Each of the men and women have dedicated themselves into turning the world that is into the world that ought to be. At times the work is lonely and frustrating, but in the past weeks they have discovered that they are not alone. Leaders and departments large and small, they encountered others from their own region, nation, or across the globe that shared their dedication and commitment. Together they swept, studied, and tested themselves. They pushed beyond their own limitations and found hidden strengths. We ask your blessings on their instructors and counselors, bless them for their patience and persistence. They have provided these graduates with skills and knowledge. The world that ought to be is drawing closer because of them. We ask your blessings upon the families of our graduates, all those who love and nurture them. We thank them for their selfless sacrifice of weeks of family time, without which this program could not exist. Reunions intheir the days and weeks ahead joyous. They deserve it. We thank you for allowing all of us to share in the building of a world of justice and peace, and we say, amen. Donald please be seated. Before we go any further, let us take a minute to remember the 47 Law Enforcement professionals who have died in the line of duty since the beginning of the year. Please join me in a moment of silence in their honor. Donald in 1935, during the height of the gangster era, the fbi worked with our partners around the country and opened the National Police Training School in washington, d. C. This began a Great Partnership between Law Enforcement worldwide. In 1940, the fbi operated its first marine base in a small building loaned to the fbi by our partners from the marine corps. In 1962, president kennedy authorized the training of our international Law Enforcement partners in the United States. As a result, 10 of the students are from the international community. In 1972, 200 members of the 90th session of the National Academy graduated from the new fbi academy in this room. During this session, over 4300 academic credit hours were completed. The men and women graduating today are a result of a continuous commitment to get better at what we do. It is my pleasure to introduce the distinguished members of the platform party. Please hold your applause until everyone has been introduced. Seated in the first row to my left, lieutenant of the Phoenix Police department, william barr, christopher wray, johnny adams, seated in the second row to my left, fbi chaplain, Salt Lake City field office. Maurice miller. Renee mcdermitt, cynthia reed, charles spencer, assistant director, International Operations division of the fbi. Seated in the third row, unit chief of the National Academy unit, john jarvis. Acting section chief Training Division. Acting section chief Training Division. Section chief, Training Division. Please welcome todays platform party. [applause] today we also have graduates of past sessions, some representing multiple generations of graduates. Would the past graduates stand and be recognized. [applause] each graduating session selects a spokesperson to represent them. Brian is a secondgeneration police officer, who has been employed by the Phoenix Police for over 18 years. He is currently assigned to the Phoenix Regional Police Academy , where he is responsible for the advanced training program. In addition to his previous assignments, he has spent the majority of his career is assigned to the special assignments unit, which is the fulltime swat team as well as the Homeland Defense bureau he was attached to the arizona counterterrorism as a detective and a sergeant. Academically, he has two masters degrees. One from Arizona State university and one from the American Military institute. He is currently working on completing his doctorate from Northeastern University in organizational leadership. He has been married 18 years and they have four children. Please join me in welcoming brian. Brian it is by far one of my favorite topics, history. First because looking at the past always points us towards the future. Second, because we are all part of creating it. Every Single Person in this room, from the smallest child to the oldest adult, history binds us together. On april 1, 2019, and i know what you are thinking, surprise, april fools, that is what my kids thought. On that day, 256 Law Enforcement professionals representing 49 states, 49 states and 35 countries began making history. The history of the fbi National Academy, session 276. Some of us came here as strangers, some were High School Friends or college roommates, or both. Some acquaintances from years past. Regardless, we came as many. Good morning friends, families, coworkers, Law Enforcement leaders and agency heads. Welcome to Graduation Day. The Graduation Day of session 276, the greatest session yet. Which, by the way, i do have proof of, as you will hear. I have been given the honor of speaking on behalf of my brothers and sisters of the 276, who voted me up here to tell a story. A story of the accomplishments that we have achieved together over the past 10 years. 10 years 10 weeks. It seems like 10 years. [laughter] and the pride that we all feel graduating here today. It is our story. Before going any further, we would like to thank attorney general william barr for being here to celebrate and memorialize the stay with us. It is truly a great honor for us all that you are here. [applause] we would also like to extend our sincere appreciation to director wray and the entire staff at the National Academy for putting together this most professional and rewarding experience of our Law Enforcement careers. We would especially like to thank the esteemed faculty as well. There is no doubt how and why the fbi National Academy is known as the premier Law Enforcement Leadership Development program in the world. Thank you. [applause] so, let us get back to history. There were many markers of history that were made while we were here. But none as visible and frankly amazing as the opportunity that we all had to be experiencing the opportunities of joe redman and alyse toppling the mile records for a male and female. Joe came in at five minutes and eight seconds. And she came in at five minutes 52 seconds. Completely crushing the previous female record. I can tell you that there was nothing more thrilling than hearing joe coming up from behind me as i was crossing the finish line. For my third lap. The class was cheering louder, and then i heard joe screaming like a madman. And i knew at that point that he had broken the record. Then i heard more cheering as i was about 200 meters out and found that she had broken the record, as well. Hopefully, with any luck, i can finish up the speech as fast and smoothly as they can run the mile. Over the past 10 weeks we were challenged, challenged with the opportunity to learn, not only from the greatest subject Matter Experts in the field of media relations, counterterrorism, public speaking, public speaking i wish is point, wouldve taken. Most significantly, the opportunity to learn from each other. We were reminded of the impact of saying i love you from special guest speakers like greg steube. And learned the importance of managing largescale incidents from john, who ran our nations most violent and tragic active shooting incident in history while serving the citizens of las vegas. We also had the opportunity to grow. Physically, and mentally. I know that there are a few of us who might break into a cold sweat the next time the wizard of oz comes on tv. That is because all of our fitness challenges were named after various parts of that magical land. I am convinced at this point that the fbi might stand for the fitness body initiative, and we all gladly participated as our amazing physical Fitness Instructors had their way with us, culminating in the yellow brick road. While we grew physically we were also challenged mentally. As we took a deep dive into knowing ourselves more and evaluating how we could become better leaders for our organizations and communities. Most importantly, we had the opportunity to make new and lifelong friends. No speech about the National Academy would ever be complete without mentioning some of our extracurricular activities. After all, lets be honest, that is where the real bonding really happened. There was the networking the board room, and the growth where can jam became the game of the session. Who knew that slamming a frisbee into a can could bring so much joy and competition. Then there was international night. For those that could remember it, it was epic. [laughter] sharing 35 different cultures over a two hour period was only made better by our own supervisory agent and his gentlemans agreement with our friend from canada. Thank god for the Boston Bruins beating the Toronto Maple Leafs because we are all blessed with amazing rendition of the starspangled banner from my favorite canuck. Bob and john fired up their bagpipes, which was the perfect end to our night of festivities. How could we ever forget the texas or louisiana night . Even though they still have a fued going on over whose night was better. I know better than to step in that one and i will leave it a tie. I would be remiss if i do not talk about our travels, the philly and new york trips where we were treated like true dignitaries. It will be hard going back to normal life and not have a Police Escort wherever we go. To tony, where are you . There you are. I still think your name would make the best restaurant brand in the country and i am ready to invest when you are. You made sure that our trip to philly was amazing, from getting to see the birthplace of our country, to running up the stairs of the art museum to the rocky theme song. [hums rocky theme song] now you can have that song in your head like we did. To eating some real philly cheese steaks, the trip was more than any of us could ever imagine. Thank you. And to ken, latonia, a thank you to well. He rolled out the red carpet from the amazing demonstrations in the harbor with the Emergency Services unit to the famous carmines restaurant where we were greeted by pipes and drums. The moment spent in times square and other places the night would take us. To the 9 11 memorial and museum, where we were reminded again to strengthen our resolve and never forget. We were also treated to several impromptu trips, to baltimore. The pentagon. The capital, and washington monument. Of course, the white house. We were fortunate to also be able to unite together for police week. As we paid honor and tribute to those who have gone before us and paid the ultimate sacrifice. Nothing could magnify this in such a tangible way as when the concerns of police survivors, or cops kids swarmed our campus. Over 100 children who lost their parents in the line of duty spent their day with us and we did our best to bring a smile to the kids who have had to endure more than any little person ever showed. It was by far one of the greatest highlights of our time here. Their visit meant so much that we raised over 28,000 to support the cops kids charity through our silent auction. [applause] speaking of highlights, we had the opportunity in the first ever joint fbi, National Academy Wounded Warrior challenge. Which allowed us to encourage and lift up our wounded heroes with potential Job Opportunities and plenty of camaraderie through a tough physical fitness workout. It was a true honor and privilege for us all. Before i close, there is one group of people here that i would like to recognize above all. Mothers, fathers, wives, husbands, and significant others, daughters, sons, friends, relatives, the family and friends who have supported us day in and out over the past 10 weeks. We know it was not easy, we know that there were a lot of sacrifices made. But you never wavered, and we knew that you had it at home and had us here in quantico. I would like all the families and friends that gave support to the members of the 276 please stand up and be recognized. Please, stand up. [applause] 276, let us give them a standing ovation. [applause] thank you. To wrap this up, i would like to leave you with a story. A story about a little tavern nestled in a small neighborhood in lower manhattan, the oldest alehouse in new york that has been around since 1854. In a dimly lit tavern, pictures of old adorn the walls, and the sounds of family and community echo through the hall. An old chandelier drapes over the bar, and on the chandelier you will find wish bones, a lot of wish bones from decades past. As the story goes, the wish bones that remain above the bar are from the warriors who fought in world war i and never made the return trip home. Their memory is long remembered through the visual reminder hanging on the balance. Today, as we graduate from this most prestigious institution, than 1 of Police Officers in the entire world will ever attend, we are hanging up our wish bones in the same customary way. As we go our separate ways, may we always remember the friendships that were forged, the memories that were made, and the history that we accomplish here together at the National Academy. Session 276, you are the best. We came as many, and we now leave as one. Stay safe, and god bless you all. [applause] donald thank you. [applause] donald all right. [laughter] director wray, as the assistant director of the Training Division i certify that all present members of the National Academy session have met or exceeded all requirements for graduation. Ladies and gentlemen, would you join me in welcoming fbi director, christopher wray. [applause] director wray it is great to be here to mark this occasion with you all. I would like to extend a special welcome to attorney general barr. I want to thank the families, everyone in this room knows firsthand that our families are the support system that makes Law Enforcement work. You help us make it through every day and you are home waiting for us when we come back, and thank you for being here and for all of your sacrifices and support. To the members of the 276, you made it, even though it felt like 10 years instead of 10 weeks. You join the ranks of a whole lot of distinguished graduates who came before you. Back in 1935, when the fbi Police Training school opened its doors to the first 23 students, i am sure that no one imagined that we would all be here watching are 276th graduation. While each session has been different in its own way, there is one question that comes up almost every single time. Is there anyone here who can translate for the foreign students, especially those from places like louisiana, and mississippi, and tennessee, and maine. Speaking of foreign students, i want to thank our International Colleagues for being here this session, session 276 which had 35 international students. It is the most we have ever had in a single session. Thank you, all of you for bringing your invaluable perspectives to the National Academy and adding so much to this experience, personally and professionally. 10 weeks ago, all of you came to quantico from places as different and farflung as bahrain, boise, helsinki, houston, and you arrived mostly as strangers but you leave as lifelong friends. Those friendships mean that you can pick up the phone day or night, just about anywhere around the world and find someone who will stand beside you in the toughest of circumstances, or provide key insight that you might not otherwise consider. Forging those friendships, those partnerships, is what the National Academy does best. As the world becomes smaller, and the perils loom larger, we have learned that a threat to one of us is often a threat to all. Working together is the best option. For more than 80 years, this program has served as a bridge that connects state and local Law Enforcement to international Law Enforcement. Today, you join the ranks of 50,000 graduates from more than 170 countries. To put that in perspective, there are tens of thousands of those yellow bricks on desks and bookcases across the country and around the world. Tens of thousands of bricks that have helped us pave the way for global Law Enforcement cooperation. That cooperation begins here but it cannot end here. Your bricks do not just represent a challenge, they themselves are a challenge, a challenge to build on this foundation after you leave the academy, a challenge to stay in touch and continue helping each other throughout the rest of your careers. So, this sessions ending, but your work is far from done. It is up to you to ensure that the network you see in this auditorium grows larger and stronger and that the yellow brick road becomes longer and wider. We all know that your jobs are far from easy. Today you have more than 250 new partners standing by to help you in any way they can. That bond of trust, and teamwork represents the best of who we are and what we can accomplish when we work together. According to our fbi records, when william barr served as the 77th attorney general back in the 90s he never had the chance to attend a graduation at the fbi academy. Today, during his tenure as the 85th attorney general, it is a great honor for us to welcome him to quantico for a National Academy graduation. Last month, you noted that your first tenure as ag, forging a strong relationship with our state and local partners was essential to achieving our common vision. And am confident that you have discovered that since coming back to the doj, that you see that the scope and range of todays threat make your statement truer than ever. There is no better example to our commitment to forging strong partnerships than the National Academy where we train some of the finest Law Enforcement officers and leaders from here at home and around the world. The outstanding graduates of the 276th, thank you for being a part of the National Academy, for your support of the fbi and for all you do and will do for Law Enforcement. Now, please join me in extending a warm welcome to my friend, the attorney general of the United States, william barr. [applause] attorney general barr thank you very much. Thank you chris for your introduction and your outstanding leadership of the worlds preeminent investigative agency. As chris said and most of you know, i am a two time offender, this is my second stint as attorney general. My arrival this time was a bit more eventful than i imagined it being last time. As we have been watching the coverage of june 6, 1944, dday, i had the thought that my arrival this time felt a little like jumping in on the morning of june 5, trying to figure out where you could land without getting shot. It was a delight after i arrived to find that the fbi is in such to find such a great partners in chris and his leadership team. The last time i was in the department of justice, i would have to say that the greatest pleasure and pride was the association with the fbi, and the great men and women in our Law Enforcement community. And, people ask me today do i regret having come into the government, and the answer is a no. It is no because i had the opportunity to work with the outstanding men and women of the bureau and our nations Law Enforcement leaders. It has been 25 years since i have been at quantico. I used to come here a lot, when i was Deputy Attorney general, and attorney general. My children at that time, all three girls were seven through 13 years old, and they used to like to come down. They had the opportunity to learn how to shoot sniper rifles, and mp5s and so on. Just little kids, and they were delighted. They went to a catholic girls school, and they would show up on monday morning very proud of the tight grouping around the head shots. And the nuns, they are a little liberal, they would be like very nice. Not surprisingly, all three of them ended up serving in u. S. Attorneys offices. People also asked me, what is the big difference between 28 years ago and today . And i thought, it could be the internet, cell phones, a lot of different things. I would sum up the biggest difference in two words, challenge coins. [laughter] they were not around. When i first around and people started shaking my hand and putting these things in my hand, i thought what is this all about . It is now a great tradition, but it poses a significant problem for someone like me, because when i am at events with a lot of challenge coins being put in my hand i generally put them in my pocket. When you are like me and have a disturbing differential between your waistline and your hip line your pants start falling down. So i do not go to them anymore unless i am wearing suspenders. Above all today, what i would like to do, and it is an honor to be here at this graduation, and it is my first one. I would like to can graduate i would like to congratulate the 256 graduates of the 276 training session. I would like to congratulate the families of the graduates. It is difficult to be a Law Enforcement family. You shoulder the stress and the involved in your loved ones work, and you make the sacrifice, too. I would like to thank all of you for being here. Our graduates, you all know that today, come from a wide variety of backgrounds. 49 states, and 35 foreign nations. You share a common mission, and a record of personal excellence. Admission to the National Academy is highly competitive, and selective, and you represent the best of the leadership in the ranks of Law Enforcement, in this country and around the world. One thing that is manifest to me, just coming in after 28 years, is the pride that we can take in Law Enforcements high level of professionalism. Professionalism that has been achieved over the past decades. You exemplify that by focusing on training, technology, best practices, and above all, cooperation. Law enforcement in the United States and among our allies has reached new levels of excellence and allows us to achieve historic reductions in crime. Of course, we are always striving to reach greater heights, and the National Academy remains at the center of this effort. I think you all know that the experience here is not all about learning from your instructors, it is also about learning from each other, and building the relationships and trust that is so essential for our collective action. We are building a national and Worldwide Network of Law Enforcement excellence, a network that, through cooperation, allows us to meet the great challenges that we face. I have always believed that none of us can succeed in our responsibilities without cooperation. In 1992, when i last served, Violent Crime was at our highest rate. It had trebled. My priority was addressing this by building a tight partnership with our state and local colleagues. Over the past three decades, Violent Crime has been halved, 1992 was the peak and it decreased from then on. It has been cooperation and joint action that has allowed us to do this. At that time i had an office that focused exclusively on our relationships with state and local Law Enforcement. I was disappointed when i returned to find that the office no longer existed, but last month during police week i ordered it be reestablished, and it has been stood up this week with a number of fulltime professionals who will focus on communications and cooperation, building cooperation with state and local partners. Also, 30 years ago, we stood up the office of International Affairs in the office of the attorney general. We expanded the fbis program, and up a web of bilateral and multilateral agreements to facilitate our cooperation on international Law Enforcement matters including Drug Trafficking and the emerging scourge of terrorism. I learned firsthand how valuable it is to have Law Enforcement allies around the world. One of the formative experiences in my life was dealing with pan am 103 bombing. In that investigation, we worked closely with the police on the most complex and exhaustively investigations in history. In the scottish police, along with the fbi conducted a brilliant and the crime scene was 845 square miles, and scottish authorities searched it inch by inch, month after month, through fields, forests, lakes, and towns. This painstaking search led to the key evidence, which was a fragment of a board the size of a fingernail. It was that evidence that led us to the perpetrators. In those days, it was an unprecedented cooperative effort involving not just the United States, the fbi, and the u. K. , but many other countries as well. It left a deep depression on the department of justice and on me personally. Over the years, as director wray just mentioned, this International Cooperation has become imperative. Let me read you this remark written 100 years ago. This was written before the first world war. He says, the inhabitants of london could order by telephone, sipping his morning tea in bed, the various products of the whole earth in such quantity as he might see fit, and reasonably expect their early delivery up on his doorstep. He could at the same moment, and by the same means, adventure his wealth in the Natural Resources and new enterprises of any quarter of the World Without exertion or trouble in their prospective fruits and advantages. Little could he have imagined the internet age and the Digital World of today. And the rapid transportation, and reduction of transportation and communication costs. This all bears directly on the work of Law Enforcement. Just as it has never been easier for us to work together, it has never been easier for criminals to work together, in a matter of seconds, a terrorists in india can communicate with a sympathizer in indiana, a gang leader in el salvador can order a killing in boston. Funds can be moved with a click of the mouse. The gravest threats to society today, terrorism, Drug Trafficking, human trafficking, cyber threats, and elder fraud are increasingly national and international in scope. This makes cooperation more important than ever, and it is why the relationship and shared understanding, and the trust built here at the National Academy are more important than ever. By building this Global Network of excellence in Law Enforcement, we all benefit. Todays graduates, thank you for your willingness to serve your communities, your commitment to this rigorous training, and your partnership with us at the fbi and department of justice. We all serve on the same team, we stand for justice and public safety. As we return to work today, we will all press on together. Rest assured, as attorney general sessions frequently said, we have your back, and you have our thanks. Thank you very much. [applause] on monday, the House Rules Committee is expected to debate and vote on the authorization of jerry nadler to pursue federal Court Enforcement of subpoenas for attorney general william barr and former white House Counsel don mcgann. Watch live coverage at 5 00 eastern cspan3, online at cspan org or listen with the free cspan radio app. Tv willweekend, book have live coverage of the 35th annual festival in chicago, the largest literary showcase in the midwest. Starting today at 11 00 a. M. Eastern, featuring a journalist, a gun reform advocate, a university of chicago, a sunday, ournd on live coverage continues at 11 00 a. M. Eastern with slate national editor, and education activist, a university and of chicago professor. Watch our live can coverage of the 35th annual festival from chicago, starting today at 11 00 eastern on book tv on cspan2. Q a, blues musician Darrell Davis talks about his book, where he details andiending kkk members convinces them to leave the organization. Hehe walks into the room and was bearing military camouflage fatigues with the emblem right here. The initials kkk on his chest embroidered across his beret were knights of the ku klux klan. A semihip, he had automatic handgun in a holster. He came in and was followed, right behind him, by the grand dragon in a dark blue suit and tie. Me and froze. Back becauseo his the guy stopped short. They stumbled and regained their balance and i do what they were thinking. Either thehinking, desk clerk gave him the wrong number or this is a set up. I would like this to display my hands, nothing in them. I stood up and approached him and said my name is mr. Davis, come on in. Nikki haley, former u. S. Ambassador to the u. N. Deliver the keynote address to the Susan B Anthony campaign for life gala in washington. This is 15 minutes