Women’s History Month Feature: Jo Ann Short, a Pioneer for Women in Law Enforcement, Intelligence

April 1, 2022 / Faculty/Staff Highlights

Every March during Women’s History month, I hear of “first females” who become, or earn a title, including glass ceiling breakers. It reminds me of my own “firsts” –  many included below.

Like other “firsts,” my first college degree was from Camden County Community College, Blackwood, NJ. It was only through scholarships, and always working while I was a student, that I earned each of my degrees, including my Juris Doctor degree (University of Baltimore School of Law) and Esquire title.  When I teach criminal justice courses; especially on DEI, multicultural and minority issues, I invite others to share their challenges in becoming “firsts,” and I share my own anecdotes and vignettes. Every semester, I learn more of the DEI perspectives that “firsts” may encounter. I am so proud of each groundbreaking, or ceiling-breaking individual, who takes on these accomplishments with pride, integrity and grit. Here are some of my own “firsts:”

  • One of two first female patrol officers/Gloucester Township police department (GTPD, Camden County, NJ)
  • First female detective GTPD
  • First female special agent NCIS (formerly NIS) Washington Field Office (WFO); among the first 12 female special agents nationally hired by NCIS
  • One of two first female NCIS special agents ever qualified for combat shotgun in Protective Service details abroad or domestic
  • First female special agent assigned undercover roles (vice operations) for WFOs of NCIS and Air Force Office of Special Investigations (AFOSI)
  • First female special agent assigned to Foreign Counterintelligence, NCIS WFO (working counterterrorism and espionage operations with the FBI WFO)
  • First female special agent assigned HQ head, Middle and Far East Counterterrorism Analysis Branch
  • First Department of Defense (DoD) special agent assigned as co-chair for Interagency Committee on Women in Federal Law Enforcement (WIFLE), formerly (ICWIFLE)
  • First female civilian special agent assigned to HQ Bolling AF Base Office of Special Investigations
  • First female special agent promoted to GM-13 level (General Management) HQ AFOSI
  • First female special agent promoted to deputy chief, Special Operations Division HQAFOSI

Through teaching, I hope my “firsts” will inspire anyone else in a “first” position, endeavor or career opportunity to ethically and steadfastly persevere and succeed, and ultimately follow his/her passion! 

Jo Ann Short

 

Submitted by:
Jo Ann Short, AN-Professor of Admin of Justice, JShort@nvcc.edu