Dr. Rhonda Glover Reese was born in Annapolis, Maryland, and raised in Washington, DC. She graduated from Old Dominion University in Norfolk, Virginia, with a Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice. She later received a Master of Science in Management from Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, Maryland. Finally, she received her Doctor of Education in Organizational Leadership from the Grand Canyon University in Phoenix, Arizona. Her dissertation title is Making the Roadmap Visible: Black Female Leaders in Federal Law Enforcement Ascending to the Senior Executive Service. Dr. Reese holds certificates in Nonprofit Executive Management from Georgetown University and Howard University School of Business Executive Education – Global HR Institute. She also served as an Adjunct Professor at Pace University-New York in the Department of Criminal Justice and Security.
Dr. Reese began her career with the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) in August 1984, assigned to FBI Headquarters (FBIHQ) in the Technical Services Division. In 1985, she was promoted to the Laboratory Division as a Photographer. Dr. Reese was promoted to the New York Office as an Investigative Specialist assigned to the Special Surveillance Group working Foreign Counterintelligence matters in January 1987. In September 1988, she was appointed to the position of Special Agent. Upon completion of training, she was assigned to the Newark Field Division, investigating drug violations. While in the Newark Division, Dr. Reese was a member of its inaugural Evidence Response Team and worked on major investigations such as TWA 800 and UNABOM. In July 1998, Dr. Reese transferred to the Washington Field Office and continued investigating drug matters. In March 2000, Dr. Reese was promoted to Supervisory Special Agent assigned to FBIHQ, Criminal Investigative Division, Drug Section, Colombian/Caribbean Unit. She was then transferred to the Inspection Management Unit, Inspection Division, where she served as an Assistant Inspector. She also served as the Inspection Division’s Chief Security Officer, where she developed policy and trained Security personnel throughout FBIHQ and the field.
In June 2005, she was promoted to the Newark Division to oversee traditional Organized Crime matters. In October 2006, she started an Intelligence Program squad of Special Agents focused on developing human intelligence. In September 2009, Dr. Reese was promoted to Assistant Special Agent in Charge (ASAC) of the New Haven Field Office overseeing the National Security Branch, which was comprised of the Counterintelligence, Counterterrorism, Cyber, and Intelligence programs. From October 2011-March 2015, she served as the Criminal/Administrative Branch ASAC with program management responsibilities for Violent Crime, White Collar Crime, Violent Gangs, Public Corruption, Violent Crimes Against Children, Financial Management, and Support Services. She also served as the New Haven Division’s Leadership Coordinator and Compliance Officer.
In March 2015, Dr. Reese was assigned to the Human Resources Division, FBIHQ in Washington, DC, where she served as Unit Chief with oversight of the Onboarding New Employees Program, a program to assist new employees in the navigation of their first year of employment with the FBI. Dr. Reese served as the Program Manager for the Professional Development Program in the FBI’s Human Resources Division, where she handled professional development content delivery. She also served as the Team Leader of the FBI’s Cross-Cultural Mentoring and Sponsorship Program, which was developed to transform the FBI’s leadership landscape by encouraging inclusive mentoring relationships and increasing more diverse career development networks.
Dr. Reese is a Life Member of the National Organization of Black Law Enforcement Executives (NOBLE), serving as the NOBLE National Youth Committee Chairperson. In 2001, Dr. Reese founded the NOBLE Youth Program and created its acclaimed annual youth leadership conference, impacting more than 4000 youth. She is also a charter member of the Connecticut Chapter of NOBLE, initiated in 2010. Dr. Reese is a member of Women in Federal Law Enforcement (WIFLE) and a member of the International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP), where she served on the Human and Civil Rights Committee. In 2008, through the Human and Civil Rights Committee, she developed the IACP’s onsite community service and Explorers Project, executed yearly during its annual conferences. As a result of her work with IACP, she was appointed to the National Law Enforcement Exploring Committee. Dr. Reese is also a member of the Police Executive Research Forum.
Dr. Reese is a Diamond Life member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated, where the National President appointed her to serve on its Safety and Security Task Force. She is a Life Member of the National Association of the Advancement of Colored People, the National Council of Negro Women, and a member of the National Association of African Americans in Human Resources. She is also a member of the International Coaching Federation. Dr. Reese also serves on the Board of Directors for the Women’s Initiative Network at Old Dominion University and the International Black Women’s Public Policy Institute. She also serves on the Board of Directors for the Public Safety Cadets.
In September 2007, Dr. Reese was presented with the FBI Director’s Award for Equal Employment Opportunity to recognize her leadership, training, recruitment, and significant contributions to enhancing employment opportunities for women and minorities within the FBI. The FBI Director’s Award is one of the highest recognitions received by an FBI employee. She also attended Session 72 of the Law Enforcement Executive Development Seminar. In September 2012, she was selected to participate in the prestigious Master’s Series for Distinguished Leaders through the Skinner Leadership Institute, a program designed to empower leaders in Washington, DC. In May 2016, Dr. Reese was selected to represent the FBI at the Harvard University, John F. Kennedy School of Government, participating in “Women and Power: Leadership in the New World,” an intense, interactive experience designed to transform women as they advance to top positions of influence in public leadership.
In addition, Dr. Reese is the recipient of the 2009 Women of Achievement Award presented by the Central Jersey Alumnae Chapter of the Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated. She was also recognized by the Western Region, New Jersey of the American Society for Industrial Security with the Leadership Award for her service to the community. In July 2013, she received NOBLE’s Lloyd Sealy Award for outstanding criminal justice accomplishments. In May 2017, Dr. Reese received an Honorary Doctorate in Humanitarian Services from Lincoln College of New England. She was the first female commencement day speaker in the 50-year history of the school. She also received the Johns Hopkins University 2018 Woodrow Wilson Award for Distinguished Government Service and serves on the Johns Hopkins University Alumni Council.
Dr. Reese was honored by Success Magazine as one of 50 women selected as a “2022 Woman of Influence” whose contributions have impacted industries, communities, and the personal and professional lives of others. Dr. Reese also co-authors the best-selling books, “Dear Fear Volume 2:18 Powerful Lessons on Living Your Best Life on the Other Side of Fear” and “Your Deck of Success,” where she shares her success hack for staying goal focused.
She is an international speaker centered on leadership development, coaching/mentoring, active shooter, fear, and preparing for your 2.0 pre- and post-retirement. In addition, she holds certifications from the World Coach Institute as a Career Coach and a certification from the Youth Coaching Institute as a Youth Mentor Coach. Dr. Reese is also certified to administer the EQi-2.0, and EQ 360 (Emotional Intelligence) assessments, which help individuals become more self-aware to manage behaviors brought to relationships and the workplace. Dr. Reese retired from the FBI in September 2018 after 34 years of service. She is now the Chief Executive Officer of the Rhonda M. Glover Group LLC, a coaching/mentoring firm focusing on developing law enforcement leaders and individuals interested in becoming law enforcement professionals. In addition, she is a proud military wife married to Trent Reese.
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