The FBI is one of America’s first lines of defense against a possible future terrorist attack. With 56 regional headquarters and an additional 380 smaller satellite offices, it is the primary goal of the FBI to prevent another tragedy from occurring like the September 11th attacks. Over 22,000 support professionals and over 13,900 special agents combine their skills and abilities to make the United States a safer place. In 2012 the FBI’s budget increased an additional $119.2 million to approximately $8.1 billion.
New Hampshire is included in the larger Boston division, with additional in-state satellite offices in the cities of Bedford and Portsmouth. The FBI has been active since 1908, and as a sign of the FBI’s foresight, in 1986 agents were instrumental in the creation of the New England Terrorist Task Force including the New Hampshire State Police.
Over 400 agents and professional staff are employed in the jurisdictional area encompassing New Hampshire, and some of their notable work includes the arrest of Richard Reid in December 2001, also known as, “The Shoe Bomber,” and the investigation of two of the 9/11 hijackers, one being the alleged ringleader of the operation, Mohammed Atta.
How to Become an FBI Agent in New Hampshire
FBI jobs in New Hampshire are first distinguished between two categories: specialized professionals and Special Agents. All FBI employees must undergo a background investigation and receive an FBI Security Clearance. Depending on the prospective employee’s career path and training, applications will vary. Careers as specialized professionals are as follows:
Intelligence Analysis: These professionals use language, cultural, and historical knowledge to counter international threats by working within a specifically defined functional or geographic area. Job duties include analyzing intelligence collected in the field and from databases. These professionals compile intelligence reports and brief government officials.
Information Technology: IT professionals maintain and build technology assets. They give state-of-the-art information services and identification to law enforcement agencies at the local, state, and federal levels. Careers include working with systems analysis, network engineering, database management, and software engineering.
Applied Science, Engineering, and Technology: ASET professionals work with all kinds of challenges using the world’s latest technology. They figure out the best ways to scan fingerprints, to identify terrorists based on a single strand of hair, and how to listen to a conversation on the street from hundreds of miles away.
Linguistics: Hundreds if not thousands of different languages are spoken in the United States. Not to mention the languages spoken throughout the world where the United States has a strategic or national security interest. Linguist professionals translate from text, audio, video, and in-person during interrogations or while undercover.
Business Management: In many ways the FBI is a business. Professionals are needed to deal with things like budgets, human resources, salaries, pension funds, and overhead costs. Like any other large organization, this requires professionals in the field.
FBI Police: The FBI has its own police force, responsible for protecting agents in the field, facilities, staff, and hardware. The primary function of this professional security force is to deter terrorists or other criminals from a breach of FBI facilities.
Investigative Support and Surveillance: Perhaps what the FBI is best known for in Hollywood movies, these professionals gather evidence and intelligence through various surveillance methods. They support counter-terrorism investigations and foreign counterintelligence.
FBI Jobs in New Hampshire: Special Agents
In additional to specialized professionals, the FBI also has careers available for Special Agents. These include SWAT, evidence recovery, computer analysis and response, hazardous material, and hostage negotiation teams. Application requirements include:
- U.S. citizen
- 4-year degree from an accredited educational institution
- Two years professional work experience
- Between the ages of 23-36
- Valid driver’s license