About Us
The FBI Detroit Citizens Academy Alumni Association (FBIDCAAA) and local chapters around the Nation support the mission of the FBI through community outreach programs, awareness initiatives and volunteer service.
We support local, state and federal law enforcement through community engagement, education and outreach.
Our relationship as partners with the FBI is formally renewed each calendar year through a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) with the local FBI Field Office.
All 56 FBI Field Offices have a Citizens Academy community outreach program which builds strong partnerships with community leaders. We are joined by more than 60,000 graduates who serve as community and business leaders and are dedicated in making our neighborhoods safer and serving as volunteers.
Graduates from the FBI’s Citizens Academy program are eligible to join the FBI Detroit Citizens Academy Alumni Association where they continue their relationship with the FBI by giving back through community outreach.
Your Board of Directors
The Board of Directors, elected by the membership, serves to support membership activities and coordinate our functions with the FBI. We are all alumni of the Detroit chapter and serve in our communities
Kelly Comeaux was born in Corpus Christi Texas. His father worked for Burroughs and mother was an interior decorator. Following in his fathers footsteps he became a Field Engineer for Burroughs when his father was promoted to the Michigan headquarters. When his father started a computer company in 1981, Kelly was not far behind becoming a Novell, Microsoft, Cisco, IBM engineer. Kelly took over the company in 1998 and has rolled with the changing times to now a Managed Solution Provider. I fancy term which means he fixes computers and helps make technology a tool to help business grow. For fun Kelly helps out law enforcement doing computer forensics. He lives with his wife and two boys (16 and 17 years of age) in Brighton Michigan and enjoys the outdoors.
Dr. Shawny DeBerry is a strategic leader with over 25 years experience in the government sector. She is currently the Director of Administration for the Wayne County Department of Public Services as well as an associate professor at the University of Phoenix.
Dr. DeBerry has her MBA from the University of Detroit Mercy, and a Ph.D. from Capella University. She is also a published author with the Journal of Academy of Business and Economics. Dr. DeBerry has used her finance, project management, and organizational skills in serving the constituents of the the Horatio Williams Foundation (Board Chair) and the Vanguard Community Development Corporation (Board Treasurer), and also has several professional affiliations.
Mr. Haidar holds a Bachelors and Masters in Electrical engineering. Preferring to go by the name of Zack, he is often called Commander Zack by his friends which refers to his volunteer positions with the Wayne County Sherriff’s Office.
He has proudly served in the Reserve Division for over 20 years and is currently ranked as a commander. His years at Chryslers as a senior engineer have prepared him for the future in vehicle technologies.
He currently manages the electrical engineering department for one of Detroit’s OEM builder of electrical vehicles. He is very active in the community working with many local groups promoting a drug free society.
Graduated from the FBIDCAAA in 2007. Awni has attended every national FBINCAAA
conference since 2014 representing Detroit chapter proudly.
His distinguished serves include roles as a special unit
warrant prosecution unit fighting terrorist activity with special forces in
Iraq.
He is appointed to the FBINCAAA National Development
team, the only one from the State of Michigan.
He has served our chapter as the Co-Chair-FBINCAAA for
the 2024 National Leadership Conference in Detroit.
Gerald S. Eggart, whom prefers to be called Gerry, achieved a degree in 1982 in IT, specifically in Business Systems Analysis and Design. Spending the next 30+ years of his career in the installation, configuring and as a software developer for large corporate concerns. Proficient in n-tier design for systems that handle terabytes of data, he next added an IT security degree with a specialization in Cyber Defense in 2019. Currently his talents are being leverage in the health insurance industry and as a volunteer for both the Gift of Life and FBIDCAAA.
Holding a MBA from Central Michigan University Jay’s career leveraged his skills for the automotive and manufacturing industries in Michigan. He continues to support southeastern Michigan through multiple volunteer efforts which have included the Habitat for Humanity, Oakland Count Mentors where he received recognition as a Mentor of the Year, Goodfellows, the Senior Men’s Club and many others. He has served as the Board of Directors President for the Birmingham Senior Center
Hassan is a local business owner donating his time toward the betterment of Wayne county. He is an active Wayne County Liaison also serving as a Wayne County Commander, reserve division.
Hassen, an active father of 4 resides in southeastern Michigan with his wife. As a property owner, he spends much of his day directing the businesses he has established.
This local entrepreneur has partnered with multiple community and volunteers his time and expertise as a Tax Increment Finance Authority (TIFA) board member for the City of Warren, Board member for the Downtown Development Authority for the city of Centerline.
He is an active member of the Fraternal Order of Police
Layna Fernandez is highly engaged in her community, serving
as a Community Health Worker and Volunteer. She holds a certification in Mental
Health First Aid and is an alumnus of the Detroit Police Academy. Additionally,
Layna also volunteers with AmeriCorps Urban Safety Detroit, collaborating with
the DPD to provide assistance and resources to victims of domestic violence.
Layna’s compassion for domestic violence was sparked several years ago,
and she plans with her colleagues, to open a domestic violence nonprofit in
2025.
Melanie Harrigan-Coesens is the Human Resources Director and
Accounting Manager at Walnut Creek Country Club. Melanie received her
bachelor’s degree in business from Grand Valley State University. She is the
President of the Hospitality Finance Technical Professionals Greater Detroit
Chapter and a member of Grant Girls Huron Valley. She has been involved with and
served on many outreach program boards, most recently becoming a volunteer at
Sanctum House.
Organization is at the core of her personal and professional
successes. Melanie’s greatest accomplishments will always be her two (now
adult) children. Both are well- rounded, good humans and soon to be college
graduates. Melanie loves spontaneous adventures, most sports, spending time
with friends and family, and is the happiest poolside or on a beach.
