The FBI has been a vital presence in Virginia since 1937 when FBI field offices were opened in Norfolk and Richmond. Today the Norfolk office covers eight counties in southeast Virginia and a satellite office in Hampton known as the Peninsula Resident Agency. Richmond covers 82 counties with six satellite offices.
Quantico, Virginia is home to the FBI Academy, a training center for FBI special agents and intelligence analysts, a major research hub, and an advocacy center for law enforcement “best practices” worldwide.
Qualifications for Becoming an FBI Agent in Virginia
Joining the FBI is unlike any other career choice. Every day presents a new exciting and rewarding challenge that provides an opportunity to serve the country and save lives. Requirements for becoming an FBI special agent include:
- Citizen of the U.S.
- Between 23 and 36 years of age
- Physically fit
- College graduate
- Minimum two years professional experience
- Willingness to go anywhere
- Strong desire to fight terrorism and crime
- Ability to think, analyze and solve
Interested Virginia residents can contact the FBI at 150 Corporation Blvd., Norfolk, 23503; Tel: 757/455-0100; or e-mail Norfolk_FO@ic.fbo.gov or Richmond@ic.fbi.gov. Online information is available at the FNI Jobs website. The FBI is an equal opportunity employer. There are currently more than 2,000 female FBI special agents, many of them in high profile leadership positions.
Field Office Duties and Jobs in Virginia
Employees of the Norfolk and Richmond field offices are dedicated to combating the most dangerous criminal and security threats facing the U.S. Since 9/11, the FBI has emphasized the fight against terrorism. Both field offices employ special agents and a variety of specialized professionals, including intelligence and financial analysts, investigative and language specialists, electronics and support services technicians, security experts and paralegals. Both offices also have teams that specialize in:
- evidence recovery/processing
- computer forensics
- specialized weapons and tactics (SWAT)
- hazardous materials analysis/processing
- bomb recovery/analysis
In addition, field office members form partnerships with local, state and federal law enforcement, intelligence and first responder communities. In 2003, a Field Intelligence Groups (FIGs) were formed in Norfolk and Richmond to provide a full range of intelligence support related to terrorism or criminal threats in Virginia.
Norfolk. In addition to the capabilities listed above, the Norfolk office has a team of translators and a hostage rescue team trained to locate and free victims of hostage situations. In 2003, a Cyber Crime Working Group was created in Norfolk to bring local, state and federal experts together to combat computer/high-tech crimes, telecommunications fraud, cyber crimes against children, and identity theft.
The Norfolk office has had many successes. The investigative work of Norfolk personnel was responsible for the January 2003 sentencing to prison of the owner and operator of a home health care services company for Medicare fraud.
Richmond. The Richmond field office has the additional capabilities of both a victim assistant who supports persons physically, emotionally or financially harmed by perpetrators of federal crimes and a Joint Terrorism Task Force that brings together 40 local, state and federal agencies to run down terrorism leads, develop and investigate cases involving suspected terrorists, and provide extra security for special events.
The Richmond office recently posted a $150,000 award for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the murderer of a University of Virginia co-ed in 2009. DNA evidence links him with two other cases.