Careers After the Uniform | Grads Demystifying the FBI

Join the Association of Graduates and Air Force Academy Foundation on Aug 24 to hear from 3 USAFA Graduates as they demystify the career path as an FBI agent. The panelists will provide insight into their journeys from cadets to Air Force officers and now FBI agents. 

The Panelists: 

Dean Phillips '88

Mr. Phillips joined the FBI in March 1999 and began his career as a Special Agent in the Honolulu Division, investigating Foreign Counterintelligence and Extraterritorial Terrorism.  While assigned to the Honolulu Division he also worked Violent Crimes and became a certified SWAT operator. In 2005, Mr. Phillips was promoted and assigned to the Criminal Investigative Division, Organized Crime Section, as a regional Program Manager.  In October 2008, he was promoted to Unit Chief of the Asian/African Criminal Enterprise Unit.  In April 2020, Mr. Phillips became the Assistant Director, IT Infrastructure Division, responsible for all FBI IT infrastructure. Prior to working for the FBI, he was a commissioned officer in the Air Force Office of Special Investigations where he worked criminal, and Counterintelligence matters for ten years. He remained in the Reserves after separating from active duty and retired as a Colonel in 2018. Mr. Phillips earned his bachelor’s degree from the US Air Force Academy and a Master of Business Administration from the University of Colorado in Colorado Springs. 

Michael Bergner '93

Michael Bergner is member of USAFA class of 1993.  He served in Intelligence Operations with assignments overseas and CONUS leading national systems and airborne platform signals and imagery intelligence collection.  Mike left the Air Force in 1998 to work in Arthur Andersen’s New York/Manhattan office as a technology risk consultant, assisting Fortune 500 clients in selecting, operating, securing and maintaining technology infrastructure.  After 9/11, he applied to the FBI and entered New Agent Training in August 2003.  His first assignment was working counterintelligence in New York City.  In 2006 he was selected to join the FBI's Hostage Rescue Team.  During 9+ years with HRT during the height of the Global War on Terrorism, Mike deployed numerous times to many of the world's hot spots including Iraq, Afghanistan, Somalia, Kenya, Libya, Yemen, and others in pursuit of America's highest value targets and in response to terrorist attacks, and all over the United States to deal with the FBI's riskiest operations, including two successful hostage rescue operations.  In 2015 Mike left HRT and came to the FBI's Denver office where he investigated public corruption and cybercrime, and led the Denver SWAT team.  He is currently a Supervisory Special Agent in the Denver office overseeing a computer forensic facility and surveillance operations.  Mike has a BS from USAFA and an MBA from New York University.  When not working, he is likely skiing, skydiving, mountain biking or wrestling with his kids.

Charles Jones '95

Charles Jones earned a bachelor’s degree in Management from USAFA in Colorado Springs, Colorado as a member of the graduating class of 1995. He earned his master’s degree in Business Administration after studying at Colorado State University and Regis University in Denver, Colorado.  Upon graduation from the Air Force Academy, Charles served as an active duty officer for seven years in the Air Force Space and Missile program to include assignments at F.E. Warren AFB, Wyoming and Kapaun Air Station, Germany.  Charles began his FBI career in November, 2002. Upon completing new agent training at Quantico, Charles’ first assignment was at the Muskogee, Oklahoma Resident Agency (RA) of the Oklahoma City Field Office.  Charles is currently assigned as a Supervisor for the Denver Field Office, Cheyenne Resident Agency (RA) covering the entire state of Wyoming with agents and support employees assigned in Cheyenne, Casper, Lander and Rock Springs RAs.  As the Supervisor for the state of Wyoming, Charles and his staff work all federal criminal violations within the purview of the FBI with an emphasis in violent incident crimes. Along with providing specialized resources and training, Charles and his staff also focus on identifying and providing intelligence to FBI Denver and other Law Enforcement partners throughout the state of Wyoming.