FBI Phoenix Citizens Academy Alumni Association upcoming events

2026 Tucson Mixer - Let's celebrate Graduation Day - LAST CHANCE! (07/01/2026)

Thu, 02 Jul 2026 00:30:00 GMT

LAST CHANCE!

Join us in celebrating graduation day! (5:30pm to 7:00pm)!

SCORDATO'S PIZZERIA

4911 N Stone Ave, Tucson

Please join your fellow FBIPCAAA Alumni to meet, mingle and celebrate Graduation Day for the Tucson CA class of 2026. What could be better than to share stories from the classroom; have an opportunity to engage with Board members, learn about upcoming events and some recent activities like Quantico, see old friends, and make new ones. Simply register, show up and have fun!. This event is open to the FBI Phoenix Citizens Academy Tucson class of 2026, guests and Board members.

RSVP to Adrienne Hughes @adrienne@second-mesa.com

Appetizers will be provided. Drinks will be available for individual purchase.

Quantico/DC Payment portal for 2026 - MORE THAN HALF FULL! (08/24/2026)

Mon, 24 Aug 2026 15:00:00 GMT

FBI Phoenix Citizens Academy Alumni Association

DON'T WAIT - MORE THAN HALF OF OUR ROOM ALLOCATION HAS BEEN BOOKED!

The long awaited Quantico/Washington DC event is well underway, so it's time to start booking reservations!

This site is setup exclusively to accept payment for the hotel. All hotel reservations MUST be processed through our payment portal in order to get the negotiated room rate. Your payment only covers the room and all applicable State and Local taxes. Incidentals such as room service, etc are NOT covered and addressed at the hotel at checkout.

The rate is per room, not person. Rooms can be configured with one king or two queen.

If you plan on staying at the Fairfield Inn during the Quantico/Washington DC event plan on arriving Monday, August 24, 2026 with the first day of events on Tuesday. Plan to checkout on Friday August 28th (Activities in the morning. The hotel will hold our luggage). here are the details:

LOCATION:

Fairfield Inn, 500 H Street NW, Washington D.C. 20001

Main Number 202 289-5959

Contracted Check-in date 08/24/2026

Contracted Check-out date 08/28/2026

AIRLINE RESERVATIONS: Reservations are on your own. Recommend you fly into (DCA) Ronald Reagan Airport on Monday. The hotel is a short Uber ride. Also, it's recommended that you book a cancellable flight (just in case).

If you have any questions regarding this event, please contact Cary Peskin at cbp.fbipcaaa@gmail.com or call 623 340-7529 (C)

Looking forward to a wonderful experience!

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

Barry M Goldwater Bombing Range (09/01/2026)

Tue, 01 Sep 2026 07:00:00 GMT

FBI Phoenix Citizens Academy Alumni Association

Barry M Goldwater Bombing Range

Date and time TBD during the fourth Qtr

Barry M. Goldwater Range (BMGR) is a bombing range in Arizona, used by the Air Force and the Marine Corp.

The Barry M. Goldwater Complex is a vast training range for U.S. and allied pilots. The range consists of 1.9 million acres of relatively undisturbed Sonoran Desert southwest of Luke Air Force Base between Yuma and Tucson south of Interstate 8. Overhead are 57,000 cubic miles of airspace where pilots practice air-to-air maneuvers and engage simulated battlefield targets on the ground. Roughly the size of Connecticut, the immense size of the complex allows for simultaneous training activities on nine air-to-ground and two air-to-air ranges.

Here are the most recent particulars and directions from range command:

I don’t have all the firm and final details for you yet, but this is what I have so far.

**Please note these could slightly change on Wednesday when I send out the final email.

DATE: TBD

TIME: TBD

UNIT: 357th Fighter Squadron, A-10s

LOCATION: Barry M. Goldwater Range – East

Range 2 (Manned/Numbered Range)

Meeting can vary but generally it will be about 30 mins prior to the flight – so 9:30 am at Range 2 gate.

Directions can be found attached. After getting to Gila Bend, AZ, head south on State Route 85. For those not familiar it is easy to miss. I pay close attention to mile markers and once I know I’m close I look specifically at the power poles. Range 2 gate is near mile marker 22 on the west side of the highway near the power pole that looks like an arrow (image in attachment). It is different than all the others out there. Coordinates: 32.65773 N,112.86029 W

DETAILS: Fini Flight and Graduating Class Family Tour (these are the best ones because the families come from all over to see their pilots graduate so the pilots LOVE to put on a good show)

357 FS - The 357th Fighter Squadron trains pilots in the A-10C Thunderbolt II. The 357th 'Dragons' conduct all formal course directed aircraft transition, day/night weapons and tactics employment, day/night air refueling and dissimilar air combat maneuvers. The squadron trains pilots to plan, coordinate, execute and control day/night close air support and battlefield surveillance and reconnaissance. The 357th Fighter Squadron also prepares pilots through their combat mission ready upgrade. https://www.dm.af.mil/About-DM/Units/355th-Operations-Group/

***I will send out another email on Wednesday and it will have all the finalized information. ***

Range Directions.pdf

TRANSPORTATION:

Please provide your own transportation to and from the bombing range. Car pooling is strongly recommended

Driving Directions: See Range Directions PDF above

WHAT TO SEE AND EXPECT: CLICK

HOW TO ENROLL: When you receive this invite, please sign up as soon as possible, to ensure that you’re included in this once-per-year wonderful opportunity. Watch for follow-up e-mails in the next 2-3 weeks containing detailed instructions and maps.

ENROLLMENT DEADLINE: Enrollment closes on June 10, 2024. All prior registrations have been cancelled, so please register again

This tour has a limit of 50 attendees, and is offered only to Alumni members, students of current class, and guests on a first come basis.

Thanks to each and every one of you for supporting our chapter’s events.

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

Luke AFB Tour TBD (09/01/2026)

Tue, 01 Sep 2026 16:00:00 GMT

Luke AFB Private Tour - 2026

Please join us for an exclusive insider's tour of Luke Air Force Base, one of the country's most active military bases.

Luke Air Force Base is a major United States Air Force (USAF) base located in Glendale, Arizona. It serves as a primary training center for F-35 Lightning II and F-16 Fighting Falcon pilots. Here are some key points about Luke Air Force Base:

Role and Mission: The primary mission of Luke AFB is to train the world's greatest F-35 and F-16 pilots. It is a major training base for both American and international fighter pilots.
Aircraft: The base is well-known for its association with the F-16 Fighting Falcon, which has been a staple in the U.S. Air Force for many years. In recent years, Luke AFB has also become a key training center for the newer F-35 Lightning II, the next-generation multi-role stealth fighter.
Training Units: Luke AFB hosts several squadrons and units responsible for training fighter pilots. The 56th Fighter Wing is the primary unit, and it includes multiple squadrons dedicated to training F-35 and F-16 pilots.

Here are particulars about the upcoming tour:

DATE: TBD

TOUR TIME: 9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.

LOCATION: Glendale, AZ 85708

COST: $25/per member, collected in advance.

TRANSPORTATION: Please provide your own transportation to and from a central parking area where a tour bus will depart for the air base.

TOUR TRANSPORTATION: You'll receive directions to a central meeting point, where a tour bus will drive our chapter members around the base.

WHAT TO EXPECT: Up close tour of the F-35, F-16 and A-10 Warthog, ordinance, and other significant aspects of Luke Air force Base. More details will be announced in future mailings.

AFTER ENROLLMENT: A member of our Phoenix alumni board WILL contact you to obtain certain personal ID information required by the Luke security team.

ENROLLMENT DEADLINE: Enrollment closes on Sunday, September 21, 2025.

This tour has a limit of 30 attendees, and is offered to alumni members in good standing on a first come basis. Should we not meet the desired count, we will open the tour to guests of our members.

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

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!