Nathan T. Gray ’84 has come a long way from his early days in law enforcement.
This March, he assumed the post of Special Agent in Charge of the FBI's Phoenix office. Gray, 53, will oversee a statewide force of 240 agents and 230 staff, about double the size of his previous assignment in Charlotte, N.C. His focus will be on preventing terrorism, kidnappings and other violent crimes.
A native of Kansas City, Kan., he briefly taught school, but then turned to law enforcement and took an immediate liking to the profession. “I really liked the people and the sense of service to the community,” he says. While working as a police officer, he earned a graduate degree in administration of justice from WSU. “My opportunity to get a master’s degree opened a door for me to continue furthering my career,” he says. “It was a great opportunity.”
In 1990, Gray joined the FBI, where he’s worked in a variety of areas, including investigating drug trafficking, organized crime and terrorism. His assignments have included work in foreign hotspots such as Islamabad and Riyadh.
The professional development offered by the bureau has been top-notch, but qualifying for the FBI is difficult. “I was fortunate to be accepted,” he says. “The quality and education of the applicants are exceptional.”
Because of mandatory retirement rules, Gray will leave the FBI at age 57, but hopes to continue in another area of law enforcement.
