About Us
in·let n. (ˈin-let)
A stream or bay leading inland, as from the ocean; an estuary.
A connection between a bay and the ocean; often called an “entrance”.
An opening providing a means of entrance or intake.
INLETS is a non-profit, 501(c)3 organization that partners with the Maryland Coordination and Analysis Center (MCAC-the state fusion center) and the FBI Field Offices in Washington DC and Baltimore.
In 2011, the FBI’s Behavioral Analysis Unit provided a three-day training for law enforcement investigators in the National Capital Region. Special Agent Erin Sheridan, BAU Primary Coordinator at the Washington Field Office and SA Steve Shepherd, an Asst. BAU Coordinator at FBI Baltimore, collaborated to host the largest BAU conference to date.
With strong positive attendee evaluations, Shepherd and Sheridan assembled a planning team with representatives from the MCAC, FBI WFO and BA, and with presidents John Baker (InfraGard Maryland) and then Kristina Tanasichuk (InfraGard NCR), 501(c)3’s, leading as fiduciaries. As they prepared for the second annual training, the Mid-Atlantic INtel & Law Enforcement Training Seminar was created.
In 2015, FBI Headquarters requested INLETS to provide training in a second timezone so the Gulf Coast INLETS in New Orleans was added, partnering with the Louisiana State Fusion Center (LA-SAFE), FBI NO, and InfraGard LA.
In 2017, FBIHQ asked INLETS to provide their program in three time zones. So INLETS returned to New Orleans which included the US National WWII Museum. Then, in partnership with the FBI Honolulu office, the Hawaii Fusion Center, and InfraGard HI, the team hosted the Hawaiian Island INLETS, including a private tour at the USS Arizona at Pearl Harbor. Local Attendees repeatedly called it the best LE training ever hosted in Hawaii.
In 2018, the training program grew into its own 501(c)3 and became the INtel & Law Enforcement Training Services, commonly called “INLETS.” Kim McGill, RC Smith, with Nancy Ferguson were the board members to establish INLETS at this next level.
In 2020, INLETS pivoted amidst the Covid global pandemic and launched its webinar series, INLETS Online. Averaging 350 attendees, the monthly webinars with INLETS’ Repertoire Presenters reached attendees across the country and in England and Europe.
Throughout its first decade, Kara Sidener, John Vogt, and Carolynn Grammas made significant contributions to the program through their hard work and vision, with strong effort from Bruce Lohr, Lili Kudirka, and Veronica Rittie. Darren Heater brought his experience of vision, design, and atmosphere through his event production company.
The result? Attendees offer suggestions as “INLETS worthy.” Commenting, “the program was excellent, the flow was perfect. This has to be the best conference that I have attended. (26years of experience)” and “one of the best presentations on each topic I have ever heard. The INLETS went way beyond all expectations.”
In 2023, INLETS completed its busiest year with the 3rd Gulf Coast INLETS back in New Orleans, two INLETS In-Depth programs in Annapolis, and two versions of A Day on the INLETS. Shepherd, now retired from the FBI, serves as the Director.
ON THE INLETS, MUCH LIKE THE NAME SUGGESTS, SERVES AS A CONDUIT FROM FEDERAL AND LARGE AGENCY RESOURCES TO THE STATE AND LOCAL AGENCIES AND STAKEHOLDER INDUSTRIES, MUCH LIKE AN INLET CONNECTS AN OCEAN TO STREAMS, RIVERS, AND BACK BAYS.
Our Mission Statement:
On the INLETS is a non-profit organization dedicated to creating and providing leading-edge, high-quality investigative training and support services to law enforcement and security professionals.
Our Goal:
CONNECT THOSE CHARGED WITH PROTECTING OUR COMMUNITIES WITH THE INSTRUCTION TO HELP THEM DO SO.
The Training Programs
We offer various training program formats supporting various audiences, including: Sworn investigators and law enforcement analysts, Military and Intelligence entities, and Risk & Safety practitioners who are Security Professionals.
The Annual Violent Crimes & Terrorism Trends
This five-day conference has been hosted nearly 20 times across Annapolis, New Orleans, and Honolulu.
Focused on a bevy of topics in investigating violent crimes and terror threats, this seminar utilizes three formats of instruction: General Session and Focused Presentation topics, both are single focused delivered in 90 minutes to two hours. And Workshops, like a mini-series, with 90 minute sessions over three days, totaling 4.5 hours of instructions.
It includes the Tribute to Heroes evening program with past Keynote presentations by Richard Phillips (Capt. Phillips), Tony Mendez (Argo), Roy Hallums (Buried Alive), Mark Geist (13 Hours), Rob O’Neil (The Operator), Clint Romesha (The Outpost).
Featured Presenters include Greg Stube, (US Army, ret.), Kirk Lippold (US Navy, ret.), Amy Herman, and Gene Deisinger.
Other featured presenters were from New Scotland Yard, the French National Police, Norway’s Delta Nord, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, the Australian Federal Police, the German Federal Police, and the New Zealand Federal Police.
Presenters from across the country include the FBI’s Behavioral Analysis Unit, NYPD, LAPD, Las Vegas Metro Sheriffs Office, State Police investigators from Pennsylvania, Connecticut, Louisiana, and Maryland, private sector experts such as Gene Deisinger and Amy Herman, and many other subject matter experts.
INLETS In-Depth
INLETS In-Depth is a 4-day program that focuses in detail on a single topic. Led by a subject matter expert with other SME presenters, they provide instruction in a classroom style setting.
The agendas include breakfast, lunch, and snacks with an opening night liaison reception. The In-Depth series includes the Homicide Investigators Course, Social Media & Finding People, and Targeted Violence & Threat Assessment.
Hosted in Annapolis (’21-’24), Orlando (’22) and Tampa (’24), the intended audience are Law Enforcement investigators and analysts, Military and IC personnel, Risk & Safety practitioners specific to topic.
A Day on the INLETS
An 8-hour block of instruction composed of various presentations on pertinent, parallel topics. The same agenda is provided a number of times annually at venues from the Potomac River to the Delaware Valley. The attendees include LE, first responders, Risk & Safety practitioners from campus, houses of worship, businesses, and organizations.
INLETS On-line
INLETS On-line was created as a webinar series hosted throughout the global pandemic. While the nation was restricted to their homes and limited for months after, INLETS provided webinars to an average of 350 attendees across the North America, including Canada. INLETS Repertoire presenters
By the Numbers:
9.3 | Average Attendee Evaluation for In-Person INLETS events, more than 60 events
9.5 | Average Viewer Evaluation for INLETS On-line and Livestream events, more than 15 events
7 | Foreign Country Presenters: Australia, New Zealand, Canada, United Kingdom, Germany, France, Norway
47 | States that have been represented at an INLETS program.
24 | State Fusion Centers have been represented
35 | Institutions of Higher Education have participated
1,000+ | Total Law Enforcement agencies represented
11,000+ | Total Participants
The Planning Team
Steve Shepherd
Executive Director✕
Steve Shepherd
Executive Director
RC Smith
Secretary✕
RC Smith
Secretary
Nancy Ferguson
Treasurer✕
Nancy Ferguson
TreasurerNancy Ferguson serves on the Board of Directors as the Treasurer. Joining the team in June of 2022, she heads the financial and budget oversight for the organization, leads the sponsor and partner engagement, and the administrative aspects during live events.
Her business acumen was developed while working for a national financial institution, at the national level with a real estate organization and in regional management for a national luxury retail chain covering the central east coast.
Through those positions, she headed proposals and contracts and led marketing and customer service initiatives. She mentored her management team, fostered and maintained vendor partnerships, led employee development through recognition and promotion programs, designed and launched new product lines, locations, and events. She was awarded and recognized for implementing strategies which managed and improved inventory levels and profit margins.
Additionally, she has spent over a decade as a volunteer on several non-profit organizations
Nancy resides on Maryland’s Eastern Shore.
Kyria Hixson
Planning Team Member✕
Kyria Hixson
Planning Team MemberKyria has served on INLETS’ planning team since 2022 and supports the administrative aspect during events. Through her career, she has developed experienced from multiple view points:
Currently, Kyria is a Physical Security Representative and Crisis Management Lead for Lockheed Martin, where she provides guidance and leadership in maintaining facility compliance and organizational integrity of systems while identifying and working physical security and insider threats.
Prior, she served at the federal level as a Special Agent for the National Security Agency as a Counterintelligence Investigator. There she led a team of 12 agents, providing response to all security related incidents affecting the Agency’s facilities and personnel, conducted risk assessments, analyzed threat reporting and responded to active scenes, conducting interviews and logical investigation. Through this role, she was the Security liaison to high-ranking Agency personnel.
Kyria served two years as a Seasonal Officer for the Ocean City (MD) Police Department. There she worked patrol, observing and responding to various calls for service and emergencies, investigated crime and accident, apprehend suspects, and provided testimony in court.
Holding a BA in Criminal Justice from Bloomsburg University, she lives in central Maryland.
Kyria is currently near completion of her Masters of Science in Law Enforcement Intelligence and Analysis from Michigan State University.
