STRATEGIC PLAN for WIFLE
.png)
Message from President Catrina M. Bonus
Women in Federal Law Enforcement, Inc. and WIFLE Foundation, Inc.
On behalf of the Women in Federal Law Enforcement Inc.’s Executive Board, it is an honor to present our Strategic Plan for January 1, 2024 – December 31, 2029. Our organization has a rich history, which began with a group of courageous women with a vision for excellence. They purposefully worked together to create a platform for change to impact the lives and professional careers of women in federal law enforcement.
Our flagship organization – Women in Federal Law Enforcement, Inc. – was preceded by the Interagency Committee on Women in Federal Law Enforcement (ICWIFLE). This organization, which began as an Office of Personnel Management Task Force in 1978, hosted by the U.S. Department of Justice and U.S. Department of Treasury, was charged with studying reasons for the low numbers of women entering federal law enforcement. Since 1999, Women in Federal Law Enforcement, Inc. and our founders have continued their strong advocacy by working together with our members, partners, sponsors, and the law enforcement community to recruit, promote, and retain women in law enforcement careers, embrace and value diversity, provide empowerment, seek inclusiveness, expect integrity, while advocating for and striving for gender equity in federal law enforcement.
On August 8, 1969, following the passage of President Richard Nixon’s Executive Order (EO) 11478, the doors of opportunity opened for women and other protected classes to receive an equal chance to compete in Federal employment. In fact, EO 11478 prohibited employment discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, national origin, handicap, or age. As a result, women received the authority to carry firearms, execute search warrants, and make arrests. In 1971 and 1972, the first women were hired by the U.S. Immigration and Naturalization Service, the U.S. Secret Service, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service.
Today, WIFLE continues to lead the national discussions by speaking for gender equity in law enforcement. We remain the only nonprofit organization in the United States dedicated to identifying barriers to the recruitment, retention, and promotion of women in federal law enforcement. In 2006, our insightful leadership established WIFLE Foundation, Inc. – the professional association and educational entity that is responsible for our Annual Leadership Training, the Scholarship Program, the Julie Y. Cross Memorial Golf Tournament®, the WIFLE’s Executive Leadership Institute, and the WIFLE Engagement and Community Impact Program.
In 2024, Women in Federal Law Enforcement, Inc. will celebrate an important milestone. For more than 25 years, we have provided opportunities for women and future leaders to expand their capabilities through networking, mentorship, training, and professional development.
We encourage you to utilize our Strategic Plan (2024 – 2029) as a roadmap for continued organizational excellence. Women in Federal Law Enforcement, Inc. and WIFLE Foundation, Inc. stand true to our guiding principles of communication, collaboration, and credibility by providing relevant research, advice, and guidance on the benefits of employing a diverse and inclusive workplace.
In closing, the WIFLE Executive Board and I are honored to partner with you, engage with you, and, most of all, represent the important initiatives and programs that impact your career and the law enforcement profession.
Be well and stay safe.
Catrina M. Bonus
President
WIFLE Foundation, Inc.
January 1, 2024
Attachment