WICHITA STATE UNIVERSITY ALUMNI MAGAZINE
Spring 2009

FBI Agent

BY DAVID DINELL '05

Nathan T. Gray

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.

 


SHOCKER PROFILES

Right Up His Alley

When Steve Kloempken '95, is at a bowling alley, he notices everything: from the size and feel of the balls, to the shine on the lanes, to the way the pins fall.

FBI Agent

Nathan T. Gray '84 has come a long way from his early days in law enforcement.

Blank Page

The walls of the Blank Page Gallery in Wichita's Delano District have played host to an eclectic mix of artwork, including knitting created by a group called the Grim Knitters.

A Pet's Best Friend

When a deadly tornado nearly wiped out the Kansas town of Greensburg in May 2007, homeless and injured animals there had a friend looking out for them: veterinarian Christen Skaer '93.