Remarks Prepared for Delivery by Robert S. Mueller, III
Director, Federal Bureau of Investigation
Graduation of New Agent Class 06-01
Quantico, Va. 2/17/06

Now let me give you my first order: be seated.

It is an honor and privilege to be here with you today to welcome our newest Special Agents into the FBI. This is no small feat. The FBI receives thousands of applications each year for these positions, and we accept only about two percent. We then further challenge those we accept through a grueling training experience here at Quantico.

To get to this point is a great achievement, and we applaud and congratulate you. But we also must acknowledge that you did not get here on your own. So, I want to welcome all the family and friends of our graduates who are here today.

We all appreciate the loved ones who have made this day possible. Your importance to this class of Special Agents cannot be overstated. They have made it here with your support, and they will continue to need that throughout their careers. We applaud you for what you have done.

Graduates, you made it.

Completing your New Agent Training is just the first step in what I hope will be a long and successful career at the FBI.

Before you begin your careers, I want to take a few moments today to talk about what it means to be an FBI Special Agent, the legacy you are inheriting, and the responsibility ahead of you as an Agent.

The career you have chosen is a calling. There is something special about the men and women of the FBI, who so readily embrace the sacrifice and service inherent in being a Special Agent. It is not an ordinary job.

Now, I mentioned sacrifice. One of the realities of any Special Agent's career is the sacrifice it entails. It started when you accepted the opportunity to join the FBI, which meant you had to give up a job you already had. In many cases, you gave up a job that paid you more money.

The sacrifices will continue after you leave Quantico. They will include long hours, moving to a new city to take on your next position, or seeking a position in Islamabad instead of Indianapolis.

But it is not just sacrifice that distinguishes the Special Agent. It is the opportunity to do so much good for the country and the world.

There is much to be done. We are on the front lines for America. Will you develop the source that provides the intelligence we need to disrupt a terrorist plot? Will you break up a foreign spy ring stealing our nation's secrets? Will you track down Internet predators?

You are here not because you have to be, not because you seek status and advancement, but because you want to serve your country, protecting it from attack and making it a safer and better place to live. It is a commitment. It is a calling.

I have always believed that the men and women of the FBI are among the finest public servants around -- an opinion that has only been strengthened in my time as Director. The new colleagues you will soon meet and work with have the same commitment to our mission as they did the day they left Quantico, whether it was one year ago, or thirty.

That commitment starts with the call to service in the FBI. It is what makes the FBI extraordinary.

And the FBI has been extraordinary for a long time. There is a legacy that comes with that -- a legacy of respect and responsibility.

If you go anywhere in the world and tell someone that you are an FBI Special Agent, you will immediately have their respect. There is a reason for that.

For nearly 100 years, the FBI has stood for the best of America. We have rescued hostages from kidnappers. We have broken the backs of organized criminal groups. We have put violent criminals and drug dealers behind bars. We have broken up terrorist cells and dismantled spy rings. And we have done all this by adhering to our motto of Fidelity, Bravery, and Integrity, and by respecting the authority given to us under the Constitution.

Today, we are building on our legacy as we focus on our top priority: preventing another terrorist attack against the United States. It is a time of change in the FBI, but our values will never change. As always, we will protect the security of our nation while upholding the civil rights guaranteed by the Constitution to every citizen.

We believe that it is not enough to prevent foreign countries from stealing our secrets -- we must prevent that while upholding the rule of law. It is not enough to stop the terrorist -- we must stop him while maintaining civil liberties. It is not enough to catch the criminal -- we must catch him while respecting his civil rights.

The rule of law, civil liberties -- these are not our burdens; they are what make us better. They are what have made us better for almost 100 years.

You, along with your new colleagues, are charged with upholding this legacy. It is a great responsibility, but I know you will prove yourself worthy of being called an FBI Special Agent.

As you leave today, I am going to ask that you take on one more responsibility.

The FBI became the premier law enforcement agency in the world because it adapted to meet evolving threats. These changes could not occur solely on a top-down basis. They required leadership at all levels.

Today, we continue evolving to prevent terrorist attacks. We must continue to change because the terrorists certainly will. And I will need your help. I will need you to lead in this transformation.

In the not too distant future, your class will begin to find itself in leadership positions. You will become Supervisory Special Agents, Unit Chiefs, Special Agents in Charge, Assistant Directors. Start preparing yourselves now.

Prepare yourselves by using every opportunity to learn. Leaders must be able to answer the tough questions. Never believe that what you know is enough.

Tap into the wisdom, knowledge, and experience of other Agents. Take the training that will keep you up-to-date on the latest technologies and techniques that terrorists and criminals are using.

Prepare yourselves by building partnerships. The FBI can only be as strong as our relationships with our counterparts in the law enforcement and intelligence communities.

We in the FBI rely on the hundreds of thousands of police officers and sheriffs' deputies across the nation to act as force multipliers. Their value cannot be overstated. Reach out to them and treat them as partners.

Prepare yourselves by setting an example from day one. Put in the hours. Be accountable for your actions. Treat everyone you encounter with fairness and respect. And never compromise your integrity or the integrity of the Bureau.

Today's New Agent is tomorrow's FBI leader. Be ready for your moment.

I want to close with a story that Senator Sessions of Alabama told at my FBI confirmation hearing.

Several years ago, back when he was practicing law, the Senator said he was trying an important case. He said that one of our Special Agents had "worked her heart out" on the investigation. At the trial, she was cross-examined by the defense. The attorney said to her, "You call yourself a Special Agent. Who are all these Agents? Are they all Special Agents." She replied, "Yes, they are." The lawyer said, "Well, it's not really so special, is it?" The Agent didn't hesitate for a second. She looked the lawyer right in the eye and said, "Sir, it is to me."

There is no doubt about it: being a Special Agent of the FBI is a special calling. It is special for you, for your families, and for all of us in the Bureau. But it also represents something very special to our nation. It represents excellence. It represents dedication. It represents leadership. Congratulations on answering this call. I'm confident you're going to have a great run.

Thanks and God bless.