FLETC holds ribbon cutting ceremony for multipurpose conference center

GLYNCO, Georgia – The Federal Law Enforcement Training Centers (FLETC) in Glynco, Georgia, held a ribbon-cutting ceremony to celebrate the official opening of the new Building 9/12 Multi-Purpose Conference Center Thursday, December 1, 2016.

More than 150 FLETC staff, partner organization staff, local community leaders, and congressional staff attended the ceremony. FLETC Director Connie Patrick provided remarks and presented Special Project Awards to the Building 912 team who managed the project from cradle to grave. The name of the building symbolizes all that has occurred in our Nation and at FLETC, including the establishment of the Department of Homeland Security, following the tragic events of September 11, 2001.

During her remarks, Director Patrick emphasized four major benefits the Conference Center brings to FLETC, its partners, and our Nation’s law enforcement. First, it expands FLETC’s capacity and flexibility to deliver training and host special events, graduations, and summits. Second, Building 912 offers opportunities for cost savings for agencies holding events and conferences, as they can also leverage other existing facilities and services at FLETC. Third, Building 912 offers environmental benefits as a Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design Silver construction project. One of its features is a “living pond” that collects, filters, and holds 100 percent of the facility’s own storm water. Finally, the new building pays tribute to the nobility of the law enforcement profession through four memorial and historical displays, including FLETC’s 9/11 Memorial; the FLETC Graduates Memorial; the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives’ Canine Memorial; and the Glynco Historical Display, which tells the story of Glynco’s evolution from an operational naval air station during World War II to the headquarters for our Nation’s largest law enforcement training facility today.

“The opening of this facility is the symbolic capstone to the past 15 years of leading change in training, adapting to and proactively addressing emerging threats, supporting our partners’ needs, and advancing the Nation’s homeland security goals as DHS has evolved since its inception,” said Patrick.

The 17,500 square-foot, state-of-the-art facility features a 600-seat auditorium, a small conference room, an executive conference room, and a large conference room. The facility was designed by the Johnson McAdams Firm, Greenwood, Mississippi, and was constructed by ACC Construction, Augusta, Georgia.

FLETC trains the majority of federal law enforcement officers and agents in the United States. In addition to providing training for more than 90 federal partner organizations, FLETC also provides training to state, local, tribal, and international law enforcement in advanced programs, graduates nearly 70,000 students annually, and is the largest law enforcement training organization in the country.

To learn more about FLETC, please visit www.fletc.gov, @FLETC1 on Twitter, and FLETC Headquarters on Facebook.