Why Women Should Join the FBI — A Career Supervisory Special Agent Shares Her Story

In 1972, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) first accepted women into the FBI Academy as Special Agents. Ever since, the FBI has continuously worked toward making the Bureau a better place for women, by employing more women of color, increasing the number of women in leadership positions and providing plenty of career development opportunities for women. 

According to Supervisory Special Agent Katrice, working at the FBI “…is undoubtedly a fascinating career that truly brings different challenges daily, but every one of them allows you to advance toward the mission of protecting our nation and the democracy we all hold dear.” 

To learn more about how the FBI empowers women and the benefits of working there, we reached out to Katrice. Read what she had to say below. 

Supervisory Special Agent Katrice 

In your opinion, what differentiates the FBI from others in this industry?

The FBI’s greatest benefit, in addition to being the premier law enforcement and intelligence agency, is that it allows you to investigate every federal criminal violation both here and abroad. The FBI does not just investigate drugs or gun violations, but every conceivable white collar and national security violation, to include public corruption, health care fraud, civil rights violations, espionage, and terrorism, to name a few.

Describe one to five FBI employee benefits that positively impact women who work here. 

Benefits that make a difference include the Federal Women in Law Enforcement Organization, the Cross Cultural Mentorship Program, and the various organizations of the Equity Workgroup, all of which provide outstanding opportunities for mentorship and career development advice.

What career development opportunities can female job seekers expect from the FBI? How is career pathing approached?

There are a host of career development opportunities that stem from training, like foreign language training, cyber certifications, supervisor and leadership development courses, joint duty assignments with our partners in other government agencies, funding for advanced degrees and certifications, and more. Career pathing is strongly encouraged and offered throughout your career. The beauty of the Bureau is you can move from national security, working in counterintelligence and counterterrorism, to criminal, intelligence or cyber, or spend your entire career in any one of these areas. The opportunity to pave your path in many directions is there.

Why should women want to grow their careers here?

The FBI is at the precipice of diversifying its ranks with some of the best and brightest women the nation has to offer. The Bureau offers outstanding opportunities to lead some of the most consequential investigations and prevent efforts to overtake our democracy. Women who choose to grow their careers here will have an opportunity to transform the nation from a law enforcement perspective at a time of change unseen in this country since the Women’s Suffrage March. In addition, the federal government now offers 12-week paid maternity leave to assist female employees in maintaining an effective work/life balance.

What was your path from the beginning to now at the FBI?

My path initiated as a Special Agent in the Washington Field Office in February 2010. There, I investigated some of the nation’s most notorious gang and drug trafficking enterprises. My work led to numerous convictions. I transferred in 2015 and was assigned to a counterintelligence squad focused on nefarious foreign actors. The work allowed me to be proactive in preventing attacks on our national security. Over the past four years, I have served as Associate Division Counsel of the FBI Miami Division, likely the first African American to do so. In this role, I advise Special Agents on their cases and ensure compliance with internal policies and the law on a daily basis. My most important role was standing on the front lines and providing legal advice during the most horrific events in our nation, such as shootings at the Orlando Pulse Nightclub, Fort Lauderdale Airport, Marjory Stoneman Douglas (Parkland) and UPS. Recently, I was promoted to Chief Division Counsel of the Miami Division, one of the top five FBI offices, where I supervise more than 20 employees comprised of attorneys, paralegals, forfeiture support specialists and contractors — undoubtedly, the first African American to do so.

Is there anything else women should know about pursuing a career at the FBI?

Women should know that the Bureau began to accept women as members of its Special Agent cadre at the FBI Academy in 1972. We are still evolving as more women move into leadership ranks. There are efforts being made to increase the number of women and minority women into the organization. It’s a fascinating career that truly brings different challenges daily, but every one of them allows you to advance toward the mission of protecting our nation and the democracy we all hold dear.

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