Spotlight!
Tayama first from Guam Customs to graduate from FBI National Academy
Customs & Quarantine Agency, Guam
December 20, 2024
Official Federal Bureau of Investigation National Academy Session 292 photo of Capt. Barbara Tayama. (Customs & Quarantine Agency, Guam)
BARRIGADA, Guam – Capt. Barbara C. Tayama is the first Guam Customs officer to graduate from the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) National Academy upon her completion of the academy’s 292nd session that culminated with a graduation ceremony on Dec. 12 at the FBI Training Academy in Quantico, Va.
Tayama, whose been with the Guam Customs and Quarantine Agency (CQA) for over 27 years, was among 257 graduates hailing from law enforcement agencies across 27 countries, eight military organizations, and five federal civilian organizations.
Leadership, ethics, behavioral science, intelligence analysis, critical incident management, officer wellness, and advanced fitness training were among the focus areas of the program.
Capt. Barbara Tayama, left, is joined by Guam Customs and Quarantine Agency Director Ike Peredo after her graduation from the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) National Academy Session 292 on Dec. 12, 2024 at the FBI Training Academy in Quantico, Va. (Customs & Quarantine Agency, Guam)
Capt. Barbara Tayama receives her certificate of completion of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) National Academy Session 292 from FBI Director Christopher Wray during a graduation ceremony on Dec. 12, 2024 at the FBI Training Academy in Quantico, Va. (Customs & Quarantine Agency, Guam)
Capt. Barbara Tayama displays a yellow brick after completing the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) National Academy’s (NA) challenging Yellow Brick Road obstacle course on Dec. 9, 2024 at the FBI Training Academy in Quantico, Va. The Yellow Brick Road is a 6.1-mile obstacle course that serves as the final fitness test for FBI NA students, featuring a hilly, wooded trail with various obstacles, including walls, creeks, simulated windows, and rock faces. (Customs & Quarantine Agency, Guam)
“Balancing academic, physical, and professional demands over 11 weeks was challenging, but manageable,” Tayama stated. “The training enhanced my leadership, decision-making, and strategic planning skills, providing tools to manage complex issues and better lead our team.”
Selection to attend the FBI National Academy requires nomination based on a candidate’s leadership abilities, career achievements, and potential for greater contributions to law enforcement. Candidates must pass a thorough vetting process by the FBI and a timed fitness test prior to and during the program.
Graduates typically return to their agencies to serve in executive-level positions, according to an official release from the FBI.
“Capt. Tayama has a proven record of competent performance of duties, commitment to organizational advancement, mental and physical conditioning, and an operational outlook with the potential to posture our agency well in contemporary times,” said CQA Director Ike Peredo. “This achievement of hers reflects the capacity building and professional culture we strive to achieve within our agency.”
“It’s an incredible honor, not only to be the first female, but also the first officer from CQA to attend and complete this prestigious training, paving the way for future officers and setting a path for our agency to pursue greater leadership opportunities,” Tayama added. “I hope this accomplishment inspires other women in our agency to pursue leadership opportunities and continuous professional development.”
For more information, contact CQA Public Information Officer Alana Chargualaf-Afaisen at alana.c.afaisen@cqa.guam.gov or 671-971-1408.