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South Fayette officer graduates from FBI National Academy
Lt. John Leininger graduates from FBI National Academy
South Fayette police officer completes esteemed law enforcement leadership program
By Andrea Iglar
When the FBI National Academy invited John Leininger to attend its prestigious law enforcement program, the South Fayette police lieutenant knew the professional experience would be fruitful.
What he didn’t expect was the depth of the friendships he would forge.
At first, he hoped the 10-week training in Quantico, Virginia, would go quickly so he could return home to his family, friends and coworkers.
But the bonds he built with fellow students made it hard to leave.
“It’s bittersweet,” Leininger said upon his return in June. “You’re glad to be done, but there’s a likely chance I’ll never see the people again that I built a really strong connection with.”
A police officer for 17 years in South Fayette Township, Leininger graduated June 6 from the FBI National Academy, having completed rigorous training in the academic, physical and social aspects of law enforcement.
During his session—the 290th since the program began in 1935—Leininger lived in a dormitory with a roommate, ate meals with 200 fellow students, and shared the highs and lows of training.
He attended courses about leadership, wellness, community engagement, trust building, media relations, crisis negotiations and other topics.
He participated in fitness challenges, earning the trophy of a yellow brick by completing the Yellow Brick Road, a 6.1-mile run through hilly, wooded terrain with obstacles such as walls, rocks and water. He also excelled in swimming, weightlifting and jiu-jitsu challenges.
The curriculum pushed his limits as an individual and strengthened his teamwork.
“Overall, it’s just a really good experience,” Leininger said. “It’s unique.”
The FBI National Academy provides more than two months of coursework to improve the administration of justice and to raise police standards, knowledge and cooperation.
Attendees hailed from 24 countries, 46 states, five military agencies and six federal civilian organizations. Participation is invitation-only through a nomination process.
The academy invites only one-half of 1 percent of law enforcement professionals to attend the program, South Fayette Police Chief John Phoennik said.
Phoennik, a 2005 graduate of the FBI National Academy, supported Leininger’s nomination through the Western Pennsylvania chapter of the nonprofit FBI National Academy Associates.
The police chief attended Leininger’s graduation ceremony in Quantico, where FBI Director Christopher Wray presented the diplomas.
“I’m very proud of John,” Phoennik said. “I knew he would represent us well.”
In addition to Leininger and Phoennik, former South Fayette police officers Ted Villani, John Mackey, Louis Volle and Robert Kurta graduated from the FBI academy.
Having six program graduates from the township’s relatively small department is a big accomplishment, Phoennik said.
“It benefits the officer and the department, which in turn benefits the community,” he said. “And that’s the most important thing.”
There was no cost to the township for the program.
Over the past 89 years, the FBI National Academy has graduated 55,186 officers from the program, which is held at the 547-acre FBI Training Academy—the same facility where the FBI trains special agents and intelligence analysts.
On average, attendees have 21 years of law enforcement experience and usually return to their agencies to serve in executive-level positions.
Leininger has served the South Fayette Township Police Department since 2007, becoming sergeant in 2014 and lieutenant in 2020. An Army veteran, he spent more than three years as a paratrooper in the 82nd Airborne Division, including a year in Afghanistan.
Leininger said he looks forward to applying what he learned in South Fayette.
“When you think about any one training in your career that you would want to have, this is it,” he said.
“There is nothing else in law enforcement that is even remotely close.”
