FBI and ATF Day
Take your knowledge of the inner workings of the FBI and the ATF to the next level.
Join us for an intensive day of learning from Special Agents from the FBI and the ATF, who will share information in their areas of expertise. This insider’s view will allow you to write authentic portrayals of these two agencies in your novels. Don’t miss this rare opportunity to go behind the scenes.
This event will take place on Monday, May 4, 2026, in-person in New York at the New York Hilton Midtown, from 8am until 5pm.
2026 ATF AND FBI DAY AGENDA
Check-in for FBI & ATF Day is from 7:30am to 8am on Monday, May 4th, outside of Nassau West & East on the 2nd floor of the New York Hilton Midtown. Previous registration is required.
Inside Federal Law Enforcement
8:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. FBI
• 8:00 a.m. A Crater’s Edge: The World of Bombing Forensics, with a Chief Explosives Scientist
• 9:00 a.m. After the Crime: Assisting Victims with Dignity and Resilience, with Victim Services Leaders
• 10:00 a.m. Combating Cyber Threats: Unmasking the Adversary
• 11:00 a.m. A Storied Career: An FBI Canine and her Human Partner
• 12:00 p.m. – 1:00 p.m. Force Multiplier: How FBI Task Forces Get It Done
1:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m.: Lunch on your own
2:00 – 5:00 p.m. ATF
2:00 p.m. ATF 101: Who We are and What We Do
Special Agents from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives are on the frontlines investigating firearms trafficking, criminal use of firearms and explosives, and arson. In the process, they are targeting some of the most violent offenders in this country. The Special Agent in Charge of ATF’s New York Field Division will provide background on its mission, its people, the laws it enforces, and the tools brought to bear in the fight against violent crime.
2:15 p.m. The ATF Lab
ATF’s laboratories began with two scientists working in the attic of the U.S. Treasury building in 1886. More than a century later, ATF continues to provide accurate and authoritative scientific analysis of evidence in criminal investigations related to arson, explosives and firearms.
2:30 p.m. The Mansion Murders and DNA Analysis
After a house is set ablaze in an affluent neighborhood in Washington, D.C., firefighters find the home’s three occupants, plus their housekeeper, dead from blunt force trauma. When there are no suspects, investigators turn to DNA pulled from a pizza crust left in the house. Hear how the ATF lab helped solve this gruesome quadruple murder.
2:50 p.m. A Mass Shooting and Fired Cartridge Cases
A Labor Day shooting in Washington, D.C. leaves three dead and three injured. When investigators are left without leads, they turn to ATF and fired cartridge cases found at the scene. Hear from an ATF scientist about how Touch DNA on fired casings led to a break in the case.
3:10 p.m. Undercover Agents, Hitman, and Investigations
An inmate at Rikers Island thinks he’s calling a hitman to have his half-brother murdered. Instead, he is on the phone with an ATF undercover agent. Hear from the ATF agent as to how he was able to get the suspect to unknowingly confess to the crime, all over the phone.
3:30 p.m. K-9s in Action: Firearms, Accelerant & Explosives Detection K-9s
ATF works to secure some of the biggest events in the country, including the Super Bowl and the Inauguration. They may be cute and furry, but these dogs are all business when it comes to finding explosives. They are some of the best-trained dogs in the world. Watch a live demonstration of K-9 Dani as she showcases her skills.
4:00 p.m. International Firearms Trafficking and ATF’s International Affairs Division
The International Affairs Division (IAD) is at the forefront of ATF’s mission to combat global violent crime, foreign terrorist organizations, and firearms trafficking. IAD partners with countries around the world to investigate emerging incidents. IAD’s mission is to protect the public against crimes of violence and coordinate international investigations involving transnational criminal organizations. They accomplish this by assisting with international firearm trafficking investigations, law enforcement initiatives, and training. IAD staff are strategically located across the globe to combat violence before it reaches America’s borders. IAD has offices in Canada, The Bahamas, Jamaica, Trinidad and Tobago, Mexico, Colombia, El Salvador, and Europe.
4:30 – 5:00 p.m. Firearms Smuggling Across the Border
In a parking lot in upstate New York, miles from the Canadian border, a meeting takes place resulting in the exchange of 18 pounds of marijuana for seven firearms and ammunition magazines. The firearms’ destination? Montreal. Hear from ATF’s Attaché to Canada about how ATF worked with Canadian authorities to stop cross-border firearms trafficking.
