Collegiate Times

The way the Virginia Tech community united in the face of tragedy four years ago has inspired one man to take on the job of preventing another event like the April 16, 2007, campus shootings.

That man is FBI agent Kevin Foust, who is retiring from his current job tomorrow to join the Virginia Tech Police Department.

“The way in which they reacted to what was an absolutely horrible, horrific crime was very touching and extremely impressive to me,” Foust said. “And so that was when I kind of made up my mind when it was time for me to retire from the FBI, this was the place that I wanted to work.”

In his new position as Tech’s deputy chief of police and assistant director of security, Foust’s main duties will include overseeing security at Tech’s campuses across the state and across the world.

Tech Police Chief Wendell Flinchum said once Foust joins the force on May 2 he will bring a wealth of experience to the campus.

Foust has worked with the FBI for 25 years, during which he led international investigations into terrorist attacks on the U.S. overseas. When the attacks occurred on Sept. 11, 2001, Foust was part of a unit already investigating Osama Bin Laden and continued to do so for two years after the attacks.

In 2003, Foust transferred to the Roanoke regional FBI office to spend more time with his family. 

“I think the totality of my career with the FBI is going to help me at Tech in many ways,” Foust said. “Probably a lot of my experience in the bureau and working terrorism cases overseas will help when we’re talking about security issues not only at the off-site campuses but the campuses overseas as well.”

Foust also has experience working with the Blacksburg and Tech police departments, and was an active part of the investigations following April 16, 2007.

“I was the FBI commander in charge on scene. Our involvement in it was pretty simple — we were simply there to support the (Tech police) in any way we could,” Foust said. “Any resources that the FBI could bring to the table to help assist them in their investigation we were happy to do that.”

Foust said he and his team of FBI agents arrived shortly after the shootings in Norris Hall.

Despite the claims of negligence on the part of administrators that have arisen since the shootings, Foust said he was impressed with the response of President Charles Steger and his administration.

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A version of this article appeared in the Apr 15 issue of the Collegiate Times.