FBI Phoenix Citizens Academy Alumni Association upcoming events

A conversation with Freddy Ocuna (04/14/2026)

Wed, 15 Apr 2026 01:00:00 GMT

FBI CITIZENS ACADEMY ALUMNI ASSOCIATION

INVITES YOU TO A CONVERSATION WITH FREDDY OCUNA

Freddy Ocuna founded Greenside Training, LLC is a veteran-owned small business (VOSB) specializing in advanced human tracking, situational awareness, and behavioral domain analysis training. His mission is to equip military, law enforcement, and educational professionals with the perceptual tools and field-craft necessary to detect, analyze, and respond to human behavior in both urban and wilderness environments.

With a unique blend of indigenous tracking principles and modern threat recognition models, Greenside Training delivers high-impact instruction that enhances decision-making, team survivability, and operational awareness.

What Freddy teaches can be an asset to all family members, so please feel free to bring the entire family!

This event is being held at the Tucson Conference Center, 1310 W Miracle Mile Rd, Tucson, AZ. Tucson Rillito Police Department

Please join us for this live, first-hand conversation - Insights Into Law Enforcement

Questions, please contact Sherry Harrison at: sherry@lawmatters1030.org

An FBI Primer - Introduction to Artificial Intelligence (04/23/2026)

Thu, 23 Apr 2026 17:00:00 GMT

FBI PHOENIX CITIZENS ACADEMY ALUMNI ASSOCIATION

APRIL 23, 2026 @10:00 AM

An FBI Primer - Introduction to Artificial Intelligence

Anita Shah is a Senior Digital Forensic Examiner with the FBI. Ms. Shah holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Electrical Engineering from the University of Illinois-Urbana Champaign and a Master of Forensic Science with a specialization in High Technology Crime investigation from George Washington University. She began her career in the private sector as a Network Engineer before transitioning into federal service, where she spent over 22 years specializing in Digital Forensics. She is also a certified FBI Adjunct Instructor and regularly delivers training to new examiners at the FBI, and our law enforcement partners, both domestically and internationally. In addition, she has also taught Cyber-crime at the Undergrad level.

Topic Summary: This presentation provides a high-level introduction to Artificial Intelligence, covering its history, evolution, and major types of AI in clear non-technical terms. It further expands into how AI is already impacting law enforcement and digital forensics, including evidence analysis, pattern recognition, and investigative efficiency. The goal is to build a foundational AI awareness, in order to understand merging capabilities, associated limitations and risks.

Note: This presentation does NOT provide instruction on prompt engineering or on the usage of any of the major AI tools.

FBI Phoenix Citizens Academy Alumni Association

3104 E. Camelback Road, #102

Phoenix, AZ 85016

FBIPCAAA is a nonprofit organization separate and apart from the FBI

Behind-the-scenes tour of the Airbus A320 flight deck (05/14/2026)

Thu, 14 May 2026 07:00:00 GMT

FBI PHOENIX CITIZENS ACADEMY ALUMNI ASSOCIATION

Special behind-the-scenes tour of the Airbus A320 flight deck

UPCOMING EVENT

A special thank you to Mohamed El-Sharkawy, one of our recent Citizens Academy graduates, for making this once-in-a-lifetime event possible.

The FBI Citizens Academy Alumni Association is pleased to invite you to a special behind-the-scenes tour of the Airbus A320 flight deck. This exclusive opportunity offers our Life Members a firsthand look inside one of the most advanced commercial aircraft in service today.

During this guided experience, you’ll have the chance to:
Step inside the cockpit of an Airbus A320, and to Learn about its flight controls, navigation systems, and operational technology.

The tour will be topped off with a visit to the engine shop where you will get a close look at GE/CFM LEAP 1A engine that powers the Airbus aircraft.

Event Details:
Location: Sky Harbor Airport
Date: 1ST qtr 2026
Time: TBD

Due to security and space limitations, attendance will be limited to Life Members (currently no guests), and advance registration is required.

We look forward to welcoming you aboard for this rare and informative experience that connects aviation, safety, and technology — values we all share as members of the FBI Citizens Academy Alumni Association.

FBI Phoenix Citizens Academy Alumni Association,3104 E. Camelback Road, #102, Phoenix, AZ 85016

FBIPCAAA is a nonprofit organization separate and apart from the FBI

TOUR - Arizona Counter Terrorism Information Center (06/15/2026)

Mon, 15 Jun 2026 17:00:00 GMT

FBI Phoenix Citizens academy Alumni Association

Tour the Arizona Counter Terrorism Information Center

TBD

The Arizona Counter Terrorism Information Center (ACTIC), is a joint effort between the AZ DPS, AZ DHS, FBI and other participating agencies. Link to ACTIC.

To support the Arizona homeland security effort, the Arizona Fusion Center was established and became operational in October of 2004. The Center operates on a 24/7 basis, providing intelligence, investigative, and technical support to state, local, tribal, and federal law enforcement agencies as well as other agencies critical to Arizona and the country's homeland security efforts.

This is an EXCLUSIVE invite for the 2026 Phoenix CA graduating class.

To reserve a space, please register as well as email Cary Peskin with the subject "Tour of ACTIC" and include your name, company name or RETIRED, and your email address.

FBI Phoenix CAAA is a nonprofit organization separate and apart from the FBI

Interview with Michael Vigil, former Chief of International Operations for the DEA (12/31/2026)

Thu, 31 Dec 2026 07:00:00 GMT

FBI Phoenix Citizens Academy Alumni Association

We are always searching for topics that genuinely engage and inform our membership, especially those that offer a deeper look into complex global issues. Recently, Sherry Harrison—host of the widely respected Law Matters 1030 podcast and radio program and Director of Events-Tucson for the FBI Phoenix Citizens Academy—shared an especially compelling interview with Michael Vigil, former Chief of International Operations for the Drug Enforcement Administration.

Mr. Vigil’s career is nothing short of extraordinary. As one of the most highly decorated agents in DEA history, he led and coordinated some of the most extensive multinational anti-narcotics operations ever undertaken, including one that spanned 36 countries. His work helped shape modern global enforcement strategies, particularly through the development of intelligence-sharing platforms that allowed agencies across borders to collaborate more effectively in real time—an innovation that continues to influence international law enforcement today.

Beyond his operational achievements, Mr. Vigil is also an accomplished author, offering readers an insider’s perspective on the world of organized crime. His books—including DEAL, Metal Coffins: The Blood Alliance Cartel and Narco Queen, and The Land of Enchantment Cartel—draw from real-life experiences and intelligence work, painting a vivid picture of the risks, strategies, and human stories behind cartel activity.

His service has been recognized not only in the United States but around the world. Among numerous honors, he was named an honorary General by the Afghan government, presented with the key to the city of Shanghai, and awarded an Admiral’s sword by former Dominican Republic president Hipólito Mejía—distinctions that reflect the global impact of his work.

In the podcast interview, Mr. Vigil shares fascinating, firsthand insights into the evolution of drug cartels—their origins, organizational structures, and the sophisticated methods they use to operate and expand. He discusses how cartels have transformed over time from loosely organized groups into highly strategic, business-like enterprises with diversified operations, advanced technology, and global reach. He also sheds light on the challenges law enforcement faces in combating these networks, including corruption, jurisdictional limitations, and the constant need to adapt to new tactics.

Perhaps most compelling are his personal stories - moments from the field that reveal both the danger and the complexity of international drug enforcement. These anecdotes not only bring the subject matter to life but also underscore the critical importance of cooperation, intelligence, and persistence in addressing one of the world’s most enduring challenges.

This interview offers a rare opportunity to hear directly from someone who has operated at the highest levels of global law enforcement, providing both education and perspective on an issue that continues to affect communities worldwide.

Here’s a brief soundbite from the interview.:

mike's_shocking discovery_ buying fentanyl online_sherry_harrison's s.mp4

To watch the entire 1 hour interview will cost less than some drinks at Starbucks!