'Thank them for blazing the trail': 50th anniversary of FBI's first female special agents

WASHINGTON (WJLA) — The FBI marked a milestone in July 2022: the 50th anniversary of the first female special agents. It was July 1972 when Joanne Pierce Misko and Susan Roley Malone were sworn in as special agents. Then, in October of that year, they graduated from the FBI Training Academy in Quantico, Va.

By the end of 1972, a total of 11 women would be sworn in as special agents. Five decades later, there are more than 3,000 women currently serving as FBI special agents.

WJLA spoke to two of them this week: Supervisory Special Agents Helena Moore and Rebecca Vassilakos. Both are currently based out of the FBI's Washington Field Office in D.C. The pair spoke about their own FBI careers, plus the trailblazing first female special agents who came before them.

The women also shared an important message for the next generation.

"Highlighting this anniversary, it lets women know that you own your own story," said Moore.

Moore has been with the FBI for the last 15 years. She recalls working her way up through the agency and being inspired to do so after meeting a female special agent In charge.

I was drawn to the special agent position because when I cam on board, there was a special agent In charge that was a Black woman," Moore said. "And that was when the seed was planted for me ... There was a respect for her that you could just see."

Vassilakos has been with the FBI for almost 18 years and also has a vivid memory of what inspired her to become a special agent.

"For me, it was the Oklahoma City bombing. I distinctly remember picking up the newspaper and seeing that very vivid picture and thinking I want to be part of the solution, I want to be part of protecting people," Vassilakos recalled.

Not long after that, she remembers sharing that dream with a friend's parents.

"He laughed at me, the father," she said. "At that time, women had been in the FBI for over 20 years, but someone still thought it was silly that a woman said she was going to be an FBI agent. So I let that be fuel to my energy, to be part of this organization."

Moore and Vassilakos both had the chance to meet the trailblazing first female special agents last week, at an FBI event celebrating all women who've served in that role.

It was so meaningful to meet them and to hear their stories, and to thank them for really blazing the trail for us. We all got a little laugh when they talked about when they graduated Quantico, they were issued a purse," Vassilakos said, laughing at the memory. "A purse for their weapon! We don't do that anymore!"

"I think it's really important that we have these role models," Vassilakos said. "I think seeing someone do it gives you the inspiration and lets you know, I can do that too."

I think events such as those are important for us to remember and to pay homage to them, but to also know that they did what they do so that we can continue to progress and be more progressive for women," Moore said.

Moore and Vassilakos both feel strongly, there is still a lot of work to be done.

"What can the next 50 years look like for our organization? Today, just over 20% of our agent population is female. That's not good enough," Vassilakos said. "How can we get to the 50% that our country deserves? That's that next 50 years."

The FBI says it currently has almost 14,000 special agents. Over 3,000 of them, or about 22.6%, are female.

In sharing their own FBI experiences, Moore and Vassilakos said they hope to encourage the next generation of women and young girls to consider a career as a special agent.

"I would encourage young girls it is an attainable goal. And if there is a little seed we planted today, water it! And figure out what the FBI can offer you," Moore said. "We are mothers, wives, friends, aunts, daughters. We are members of the community."