FBI Director Patel: Place for people and experts to train ‘right here in Redstone’

HUNTSVILLE — After hearing some boosterism for Redstone Arsenal from Alabama’s U.S. senators, FBI Director Kash Patel decided to pay a visit himself.

After all, some 500 personnel will be coming to Huntsville by the end of the year and, apparently, Patel liked what he saw Wednesday.

“You need a place for people to live in a community that’s safe — that’s right here in the state of Alabama, right here in Huntsville,” he said. “These senators have been working tirelessly to shine the light on what Redstone Arsenal has been doing, and so I’m so appreciative that they let me come down and visit it with them.”

In one of his first official field visits as FBI director, Patel toured the bureau’s growing campus at Redstone Arsenal alongside Sens. Katie Britt and Tommy Tuberville.

After seeing the state-of-the-art intelligence and cyber facilities, Patel said, along with the personnel moving to Huntsville there are plans underway for another major wave of permanent staff as two additional buildings come online by 2027 — enough space for 1,500–1,600 more.

“One of the things that we’ve been working on together is to tackle violent crime across the country,” Patel said. “But in order to do that, you need a place for people and experts to train — that’s right here in Redstone.”

For both Britt and Tuberville, the visit was the result of advocacy for the area, including  confirmation hearings and private letters.

“During the confirmation process, I talked to Director Patel about the incredible work being done here in Huntsville,” said Britt (R-Montgomery) who sits on the Senate Judiciary Committee. “I asked him directly in his hearing to come see it for himself — and today, he’s here. This is one of his very first trips as director, and that speaks volumes.”

Tuberville (R-Auburn) praised the work that began under former Sen. Richard Shelby, crediting him with the vision to bring the FBI to Redstone in the first place.

“This all started back several years ago, when Senator Shelby saw the foresight of coming, bringing FBI to Redstone Arsenal,” Tuberville said. “He had the ability to see how cyber was going to affect our country and worldwide. And so he started the process of appropriating enough money to do something behind the wall here, and get the FBI started in the right direction.

“And it has really blossomed … a lot of things happening for the FBI here.”

Patel concluded by sharing a reciprocal promise that Britt and Tuberville made to him.

“I’m humbled to be with you, Katie and you, Coach. And I made them promise me one thing: I got to go to an Alabama-Auburn game with them,” Patel said. “But I’m not going to pick a side on who’s winning.”