Chief Deputy Adam Infante of the Dallas County Sheriff’s office was one of 223 law enforcement officers graduating March 16 from the FBI National Academy Program at Quantico, Va.
Infante is the second officer from Dallas County Sheriff’s office ever to graduate from the elite program, which admits fewer than 1 percent of law enforcement officers. Dallas County Sheriff Chad Leonard graduated from the program in 2008.
The 271st session of the National Academy consisted of men and women from 48 states. Included in the class were members of law enforcement agencies from the District of Columbia, 18 countries, five military organizations and five federal civilian organizations.
Internationally known for its academic excellence, the National Academy Program, held at the FBI Academy, offers 10 weeks of advanced communication, leadership and fitness training for selected officers with proven records as professionals within their agencies.
These officers have on average 21 years of law enforcement experience and usually return to their agencies to serve in executive-level positions.
FBI Director Christopher Asher Wray was the principal speaker at the graduation ceremony. Training for the program is provided by the FBI Academy instructional staff, Special
Agents and other staff members holding advanced degrees, many of whom are recognized
internationally in their fields of expertise.
Since 1972, National Academy students have been able to earn undergraduate and graduate credits from the University of Virginia due to the university’s accreditation of the program’s courses.
The graduating officers were represented by class spokesperson Ralph Cilento of the New York Police Department. The FBI National Academy has graduated a total of 50,808 officers since the program began in 1935.
