Commander Bradley Kiefer graduated from the FBI National Academy

Commander Bradley Kiefer was invited in March to participate in the FBI National Academy in Quantico, Virginia, making him part of less than 1% of law enforcement officers worldwide who are accepted into the training program.

The FBI National Academy is a professional course of study for U.S. and international law enforcement managers who are nominated by their agency because of their leadership qualities. Kiefer is only the second Pitt police officer to attend the academy, with Vernon Barkley being the first over 25 years ago.

On Sept. 12, he graduated from the 10-week program, which serves to improve the administration of justice in police departments and agencies at home and abroad and to raise law enforcement standards, knowledge, and cooperation worldwide. provides coursework in intelligence theory, terrorism and terrorist mindsets, management science, law, behavioral science, law enforcement communication and forensic science.

As part of the program, Kiefer attended a host of graduate-level courses in intelligence theory, terrorism and terrorist mindsets, management science, law, behavioral science, law enforcement communication and forensic science, all accredited through the University of Virginia.

In addition to networking with domestic and international law enforcement partners to discuss best practices in officer wellness, recruitment and community engagement, Kiefer noted that the weekly fitness challenges were a major highlight for him. “I’m looking forward to the final fitness challenge, the Yellow Brick Road,” he said in late August. “It’s a grueling 6.1-mile run through a hilly, wooded trail built by the U.S. Marines. Along the way, the participants must climb over walls, run through creeks, jump through simulated windows, scale rock faces with ropes, crawl under barbed wire in muddy water, and maneuver across a cargo net. Upon completion of this final fitness challenge, I will receive an actual yellow brick to memorialize the achievement with the FBI Session #291 on it.”

“I was very excited for Brad when I was notified that he was chosen to attend the FBI Academy,” said Holly Lamb, chief of the University of Pittsburgh Police Department. “Brad is a major part of our police department; he is very knowledgeable, reliable, a mentor to some and just a huge part of the everyday operations. I’m very honored that he was chosen to represent UPPD at the FBI Academy and am looking forward to him bringing back his experiences.”

Kiefer began his career with the University of Pittsburgh Police Department in 2003 as a security guard after graduating from Pitt in 2002 with a degree in materials science engineering. Kiefer graduated from the Allegheny County Police training academy in 2009 and became a sworn police officer for Pitt Police. In 2013, Kiefer was promoted to the rank of patrol sergeant, to shift lieutenant in 2017 and to commander in September. In May 2022, Kiefer began serving as the supervisor for the Community Programs Unit.