Arkansas Law Enforcement Leader Graduates From FBI National Academy

Assistant Chief of Police Bryan Christenson at Southern Arkansas University in Magnolia, Arkansas is now a graduate of the FBI National Academy in Quantico, Virginia.

What It Takes To Graduate From The FBI National Academy

According to a press release, Christenson was one of 244 law enforcement officers from around the country to graduate from the 10-week academy. Men and women from 48 states and the District of Columbia along with other law enforcement agencies from 24 countries, 11 military organizations, and four federal civilian organizations attended the prestigious FBI National Academy.

Several course offerings allowed participants to learn more about advanced communication, leadership skills, and mandatory fitness training on a physical fitness course which is essential in becoming an FBI agent. Four elective courses can be chosen from the participants, Christenson chose Managing Organizational Change and Development; Leadership: Culture and Influence; Leading Well: Authentic Leadership through Wellness; Essentials for Law Enforcement Executives; and Leading At-Risk Employees for Executives.

Follow The Yellow Brick Road

National Academy students were required to complete a physical fitness challenge that pushed their limits in the legendary "Yellow Brick Road," a six-mile obstacle course designed by the Marines. Conquering the course earned participants more than bragging rights; they received the coveted yellow brick to memorialize their achievement. The three core components of the Academy are academics, physical fitness and wellness, and networking and knowledge sharing.

On average, participants in the course must have 21 years of law enforcement experience. Since 1935, approximately 55,941 graduates have completed the FBI National Academy training courses to become FBI new special agents and intelligence analysts.

Christenson, originally from the Fort Worth area, is in his sixth year at SAU. He and his wife, Jessica, enjoy raising three children: daughters Reese and Remi, and their son, Myles.

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