2025 Board of Directors Elections:
All candidates were unopposed and will retain their seats for the next term.
About ACBI
ACBI was founded on October 1, 2001 in Chantilly, Virginia and incorporated as a formal organization on March 7, 2003 in Maryland. The original meeting was comprised of 31 background investigators in 2002.
The organization was founded by Earl Gould of the Washington D.C. Metropolitan Police Department. His co-founders were Kathy Pursel, Jason Armintrout, Stephanie Fink, Gary Lafferty, Jim Bordenet, Russell Standford and Grant Harmon.
The Organization was granted Business League, Non-Profit Status, Section 501 (c) (6), by the IRS on April 10, 2003. Membership is open to anyone who participates in the life cycle of the United States Government Personnel Security and Background Investigations to include Manager, Recruiter, and Analyst but not limited to Scoping; Pre-Field; Assigner; Investigator; Reviewer; and Adjudicator. Associate Membership is also open to those with a sincere interest in joining the BI industry. ACBI is not a union.
Join Our Association
Some of the Benefits that Our Members Receive
Benefit 1
Exclusive Access to networking among industry and government professionals in the only Association of its kind. Direct access to immediate notification of new opportunities in the industry. Our membership includes both contractor and FT employed professionals across the entire lifecycle of this niche industry around the globe.
Benefit 2
Advanced notice and pre-sale discounts to events. Private members-only access to virtual events and the ACBI forum where members and corporate partners can engage. This gives our members an opportunity to learn about new potential job openings available, industry trends, best practices, and networking.
Benefit 3
Member only access to industry Leads List, Discussion Forum, Live Chat with Members, quarterly Members Meetings, and other Resources and Benefits.
Benefit 4
Identification as a distinguished professional, committed to the highest ethics and standards. Your membership conveys your commitment of excellence to the national security industry. Member only access to specialty items with the ACBI logo. Show your professional pride with a lapel pin, laptop bag, challenge coin, or other items.
Click the button below to watch a video by Cop To Corporate‘s Sammy Tierney with ACBI President Anthony DiFede, ACBI Vice President William Preis, and ACBI Secretary Irene Papadopoulos to learn more about the benefits of joining ACBI:
Our Mission
The Association of Certified Background Investigators, Inc. (ACBI) is a national professional organization comprised of background investigators and those in the background investigation life cycle, conducting national security background investigations for federal agencies of the United States Government, domestic and TDY overseas.
Our mission is to improve and maintain the integrity of the background investigative industry; to provide professional development opportunities to share information to better perform their duties and to maintain and enhance their investigative skills; to provide a means for investigators to offer networking opportunities including the earliest notice of potential work possibilities; to assist contract companies and federal agencies in locating qualified investigators; to develop and maintain liaison with Investigative Service Providers (ISP); to recruit qualified persons into the industry; and to engage in lobbying activities, thereby attempting to influence legislation germane to ACBI programs or related to common business interests such as the improvement of business conditions, at the federal or state level through communication with a member or employee of the legislative body, a government official, or employee who may participate in formulating legislation, and/or the general public on legislative matters or referenda.
Considering joining us? Please read the FAQs!
