With over 36,000 employees worldwide, the FBI is on the front lines of the battle to prevent the next terrorist attack in the United States. FBI jobs in Maryland are concentrated at the main Baltimore field office, with an additional eight satellite offices located throughout Maryland and Delaware. FBI Agents from the Baltimore Division not only work to combat the threat from terrorism, but also fight against public corruption, white-collar crime, and sex-trafficking.
In the 1980s agents from the Baltimore office helped to investigate and convict Ronald Pelton, an American who was discovered to be selling state secrets to the Soviet Union.
Special Agents as Specialized Professionals
FBI jobs in Baltimore’s jurisdiction can be divided into two career paths: special agents and specialized professionals. Special agents have training in specific areas of expertise including:
- Evidence Response Team: The Baltimore Division’s ERT comes equipped to gather every piece of crime scene forensic evidence. Agents have training in ballistics, blood analysis, DNA collection, fingerprint lifting, and the gathering of minute traces of physical evidence.
- Specialized Weapons and Tactics Team: Also known as a SWAT Team, these agents can breach any facility, and have special training in hostage rescue and weapons, including shotguns, assault and sniper rifles.
- Bomb Recovery and Analysis: The division also maintains agents who are able to test and render harmless a range of explosive devices.
- HAZMAT Experts: These agents specialize in hazardous material and the collection of evidence in very difficult environments. They are trained for response in chemical, nuclear, radiological, and biological incidents.
Specialized professionals make up a majority of FBI employees nationwide, and at the Baltimore Division these career professionals work in the following fields:
- Intelligence Analysts: These agents may work in the field at specific geographic locations where they have an expert knowledge of the local language, culture, or history. Agents may also work in headquarters or satellite offices analyzing assessments and preparing reports for other law enforcement agencies.
- Information Technology: With each day the importance of electronic devices grows. IT specialists make sure the FBI stays abreast with the latest developments in technology and uses these tools to maximize the technological benefit.
- Linguists: Careers in linguistics play a vital part in managing human intelligence, be it collected from phone taps, satellite intercepts, or surveillance operations. Linguists work in the office, in the field, or even undercover.
- Investigative Support and Surveillance: These agents specialize in surveillance operations with the intent to gather evidence that will be presentable in a court of law. This job involves clandestine work in at-times unpleasant situations.
- FBI Police: The FBI employs its own police force for security protection and perimeter walks. These agents are the first line of defense against a physical breach of FBI territory.
How to Become an FBI Agent in Baltimore
The FBI requirements in Baltimore for jobs include the following minimum qualifications:
- Citizen of the United States
- Between the ages of 23 and 36
- Four-year college degree
- Two years professional work experience
- No felony convictions