Shaquille O’Neal added an unexpected new distinction to his résumé Thursday when he was recognized as an honorary FBI special agent during a graduation ceremony at the FBI National Academy. According to Kash Patel’s announcement, O’Neal joined the FBI National Academy’s 299th session as the latest group completed its program in Quantico, Virginia, on September 17. Patel said the session included 265 law enforcement officials and called O’Neal one of the country’s strongest supporters of law enforcement.
Congratulations to our newest session of FBI National Academy graduates session 299 – represented by 265 law enforcement officials from around the country.
This session is historic – FBI was honored to be joined by one of the best supporters of law enforcement in the country -… pic.twitter.com/GeIBiBf9Sr
— FBI Director Kash Patel (@FBIDirectorKash) September 17, 2026
Patel specifically said O’Neal “graduated with this session and became an honorary FBI Special Agent.” The Shaq special agent recognition was honorary, adding another law enforcement connection to a public figure whose interest in police work stretches back decades.
The graduation itself brought together experienced law enforcement leaders from across the United States and abroad. According to an Anne Arundel County Fire Department release containing the FBI National Academy Associates graduation announcement, Session 299 included officers from 44 states and Washington, D.C., along with 29 international law enforcement members representing 28 countries. Five military organizations and four federal civilian organizations were also represented.
The same announcement said participants completed 10 weeks of advanced communication, leadership, and fitness training. Attendees generally arrive with extensive experience already behind them. The National Academy reported that members of the graduating class averaged 21 years in law enforcement and typically return to their agencies in executive-level positions.
The FBI National Academy is not the same as the training pipeline for newly hired FBI special agents. According to the FBI’s own description of the National Academy, the program is designed for leaders and managers from law enforcement agencies around the world and focuses on professional education, physical fitness, and collaboration. The Bureau said participants live and study at its Training Academy campus in Quantico while building relationships with other law enforcement professionals.
That distinction is important when it comes to the Shaq special agent title. O’Neal’s recognition was explicitly described as honorary in Patel’s announcement, while the National Academy primarily serves experienced professionals from outside agencies rather than functioning as a class of newly appointed FBI agents.
Still, O’Neal is far from a newcomer to law enforcement circles.
Back in December 2005, O’Neal was sworn in as a Miami Beach reserve police officer after spending about a year training for the volunteer position. At the time, he was playing for the Miami Heat and had already served as a reserve officer in Los Angeles.
O’Neal’s Miami Beach role allowed him to wear a badge, carry a firearm, and make arrests, although his celebrity made traditional patrol or undercover assignments unlikely. O’Neal had also expressed particular interest in helping investigators combat crimes against children.
His law enforcement involvement extended beyond local police work. According to The Washington Post’s 2005 coverage, O’Neal received an honorary Deputy U.S. Marshal badge and became a national spokesperson for the Safe Surfin’ Foundation, an organization focused on protecting children from online predators. The newspaper also reported that he had attended a Los Angeles County law enforcement academy while playing for the Lakers.
O’Neal’s interest even surfaced away from formal training. In September 2005, The Washington Post reported that he followed a vehicle after witnessing an alleged assault in Miami Beach and alerted an officer, helping authorities locate and arrest a suspect.
Nearly 21 years later, the Shaq special agent honor brings that long-running connection with law enforcement back into the spotlight.
Session 299 also marked another milestone for the National Academy itself. According to the official graduation information released by Anne Arundel County, 57,461 people have completed the program since it began in 1935. The courses are taught by FBI Academy instructors, special agents, and other staff, and students have been able to earn undergraduate and graduate credits through the University of Virginia since 1972.
For O’Neal, the Quantico ceremony connects a decades-long interest in law enforcement with one of the FBI’s best-known training programs, giving the basketball icon another badge-related honor long after his playing days ended.
