RIVER VALE, N.J. — John J. DeVoe was a River Vale police officer when he graduated from the FBI National Academy in 2013. Now the retired lieutenant will lead the private nonprofit that serves nearly 14,500 academy graduates across 48 chapters.
The FBI National Academy Associates named DeVoe executive director after seven months as acting director. Jim Gallagher, the association’s national president, announced the appointment Oct. 25 in Orlando, Florida. DeVoe will oversee the group’s national office in Quantico, Virginia, and its training and membership programs.
Born and raised in Hasbrouck Heights, DeVoe graduated from Don Bosco Prep in Ramsey. He began his police career in 1996 as a special law enforcement officer in Seaside Heights and later joined the River Vale Police Department, where he rose to lieutenant. He also served as a senior investigator with the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office Cyber Crimes Task Force and on the executive board of Pascack PBA Local 206.
After graduating with the FBI National Academy’s 252nd class, DeVoe joined the association’s New Jersey chapter board and served as chapter president in 2020 and 2021. He joined the national office in 2023 as director of strategic partnerships and became acting executive director in March.
“Seven months ago, I was asked to step into this role, and I said yes because this Association has done so much for me, personally and professionally,” DeVoe said in the announcement. “Whatever progress we’ve made since then belongs to our National Team, and it was built for our members. That’s who I serve.”