Lora Gioeni '86 - Alumni Spotlight
Lora J. Gioeni ’86 has wanted to be an FBI agent since she was five years old. While she cannot pinpoint the exact date and time this ambition struck her, she believes it might have been the portrayal of a female FBI agent in an episode of one of her favorite TV shows in the ‘70s, S.W.A.T. “I recall seeing a woman walk into the room and taking charge. That was the woman I wanted to be.” And while she has fulfilled that childhood dream – and then some – she is still humbled by her life’s path, very cognizant of her many blessings.
Born to Joan and John, Lora and her older sister Lisa grew up in Marine Park, products of Good Shepherd School. Being a bit of a tomboy, Lora was hoping to follow some of her male childhood friends to Bishop Ford, before her parents encouraged her that an all-girls school, St. Edmund, was the better choice. Lora followed their advice and thoroughly enjoyed her St. Edmund experience. Most of her time was spent in the gym and on the field as Lora was a 4 year Varsity player on the Volleyball, Basketball and Softball teams, marking a trifecta as Captain of all three Varsity sports in her senior year. It was this athleticism which propelled her to St. Mary of the Plains College in Dodge City, KS of all places. How does a Brooklyn Girl find herself in the middle of the Great Plains, America’s heartland?
“It just so happens that the volleyball team was playing in a championship game and I had the game of a lifetime…great timing for our team but not a true display of my actual volleyball talent.” A scout from St. Mary’s athletic department was present and arranged for a volleyball tryout. Unfortunately her volleyball tryout was not inspired but at her request, the athletic director arranged for a softball tryout the same day. Lora’s true love was softball and that was the sport she hoped would open doors for a collegiate career. The rest as they say is history, with St. Mary’s offering a full college scholarship to play softball.
Eager to pursue her FBI dream, Lora majored in Criminal Justice and recalled that her intro to bio course was particularly fascinating. This lead to a human physiology class, anatomy, chemistry – every elective seemed to be used for science. Her advisor was the first to suggest a double major since her love of science was clearly apparent – if not yet to Lora! Lora graduated from St. Mary’s in 1990 with a double major in Criminal Justice and Biology and a minor in Chemistry – a rigorous course of study which would inform many of her future choices and career path in the Bureau.
On a whim, she tagged along with a college friend to sit for the Carrolton, TX police exam and joined the force shortly after graduation, serving as a field training officer and crime scene investigator during her time there. Clearly inspired by her favorite childhood television show, Lora was the first female S.W.A.T team member in Carrolton, TX. Her success and work ethic resulted in her receipt of the “Officer of the Year” award in 1993.
Recognizing the need to pursue an advanced degree in order to qualify for the FBI, Lora returned to her parents (who had now moved to the Poconos in PA) and received her Master’s Degree in Biology from East Stroudsburg University in 1995. She entered the FBI Academy in 1996 and her first assignment was in the Columbia, SC field office as a Special Agent. While in SC, she pursued graduate research at the University of South Carolina in Forensic Entomology. Lora’s interest in entomology was sparked by her love of fly fishing. Entomology is the scientific study of insects but a specialization used heavily in crime scene investigations. Lora incorporated these studies into her work, developing the first forensic entomology program in South Carolina.
Because of her love of science and all things forensic, Lora applied for - and was accepted into - the Forensic Examiner training program to become a mitochondrial DNA Examiner and promoted to a Supervisory Special Agent. Lora’s home base was now Quantico, VA. The immersive two year training program was intense and challenging but Lora took to it naturally. Her analysis and data collection efforts have resulted in the publication of her findings in important scholarly journals such as Forensic Science International and Biometrica. Her expertise has required her testimony in a number of important federal, tribal, state and local cases including the infamous DC sniper case.
As a mitochondrial DNA examiner, she has been involved in the analysis of evidence collected in cases of rapes, homicide and terrorism cases. In fact she was bestowed the Director’s Award for Scientific Achievements in 2005 for her work on Biometrics and DNA analysis in terrorism cases arising out of Iraq and Afghanistan.
In October 2010 Lora was promoted to Unit Chief for the Chemical, Biological, Radiological & Nuclear Science unit and promoted again in 2014 as the Unit Chief for the Evidence Response Team Unit. She has worked diligently to develop protocols and best practices for evidence collection teams so all field offices receive the same training and are able to work together seamlessly regardless of geographic location. Given events in the world at the present time, it is critical that field offices can be deployed anywhere and work together cohesively using the same standards and methods.
Lora’s life’s journey has truly been amazing. She is so thankful for her parents undying support which allowed her to grow and pursue her dream. She never could have imagined the places and experiences this calling would take her - certainly well beyond what her five year old self imagined. And now that she is that FBI woman who walks into a room with confidence and takes charge, she is looking forward to her retirement in the next year or two to spend more time with family and her partner Linda. It seems that Lora is somewhat amazed herself at the path she has taken and she ponders what she will pursue next… maybe teaching or philosophy. Confident in Lora’s tenacity and her desire to be of service to others we know that whatever she chooses to do, she will continue to amaze us and make St. Edmund proud.
Born to Joan and John, Lora and her older sister Lisa grew up in Marine Park, products of Good Shepherd School. Being a bit of a tomboy, Lora was hoping to follow some of her male childhood friends to Bishop Ford, before her parents encouraged her that an all-girls school, St. Edmund, was the better choice. Lora followed their advice and thoroughly enjoyed her St. Edmund experience. Most of her time was spent in the gym and on the field as Lora was a 4 year Varsity player on the Volleyball, Basketball and Softball teams, marking a trifecta as Captain of all three Varsity sports in her senior year. It was this athleticism which propelled her to St. Mary of the Plains College in Dodge City, KS of all places. How does a Brooklyn Girl find herself in the middle of the Great Plains, America’s heartland?
“It just so happens that the volleyball team was playing in a championship game and I had the game of a lifetime…great timing for our team but not a true display of my actual volleyball talent.” A scout from St. Mary’s athletic department was present and arranged for a volleyball tryout. Unfortunately her volleyball tryout was not inspired but at her request, the athletic director arranged for a softball tryout the same day. Lora’s true love was softball and that was the sport she hoped would open doors for a collegiate career. The rest as they say is history, with St. Mary’s offering a full college scholarship to play softball.
Eager to pursue her FBI dream, Lora majored in Criminal Justice and recalled that her intro to bio course was particularly fascinating. This lead to a human physiology class, anatomy, chemistry – every elective seemed to be used for science. Her advisor was the first to suggest a double major since her love of science was clearly apparent – if not yet to Lora! Lora graduated from St. Mary’s in 1990 with a double major in Criminal Justice and Biology and a minor in Chemistry – a rigorous course of study which would inform many of her future choices and career path in the Bureau.
On a whim, she tagged along with a college friend to sit for the Carrolton, TX police exam and joined the force shortly after graduation, serving as a field training officer and crime scene investigator during her time there. Clearly inspired by her favorite childhood television show, Lora was the first female S.W.A.T team member in Carrolton, TX. Her success and work ethic resulted in her receipt of the “Officer of the Year” award in 1993.
Recognizing the need to pursue an advanced degree in order to qualify for the FBI, Lora returned to her parents (who had now moved to the Poconos in PA) and received her Master’s Degree in Biology from East Stroudsburg University in 1995. She entered the FBI Academy in 1996 and her first assignment was in the Columbia, SC field office as a Special Agent. While in SC, she pursued graduate research at the University of South Carolina in Forensic Entomology. Lora’s interest in entomology was sparked by her love of fly fishing. Entomology is the scientific study of insects but a specialization used heavily in crime scene investigations. Lora incorporated these studies into her work, developing the first forensic entomology program in South Carolina.
Because of her love of science and all things forensic, Lora applied for - and was accepted into - the Forensic Examiner training program to become a mitochondrial DNA Examiner and promoted to a Supervisory Special Agent. Lora’s home base was now Quantico, VA. The immersive two year training program was intense and challenging but Lora took to it naturally. Her analysis and data collection efforts have resulted in the publication of her findings in important scholarly journals such as Forensic Science International and Biometrica. Her expertise has required her testimony in a number of important federal, tribal, state and local cases including the infamous DC sniper case.
As a mitochondrial DNA examiner, she has been involved in the analysis of evidence collected in cases of rapes, homicide and terrorism cases. In fact she was bestowed the Director’s Award for Scientific Achievements in 2005 for her work on Biometrics and DNA analysis in terrorism cases arising out of Iraq and Afghanistan.
In October 2010 Lora was promoted to Unit Chief for the Chemical, Biological, Radiological & Nuclear Science unit and promoted again in 2014 as the Unit Chief for the Evidence Response Team Unit. She has worked diligently to develop protocols and best practices for evidence collection teams so all field offices receive the same training and are able to work together seamlessly regardless of geographic location. Given events in the world at the present time, it is critical that field offices can be deployed anywhere and work together cohesively using the same standards and methods.
Lora’s life’s journey has truly been amazing. She is so thankful for her parents undying support which allowed her to grow and pursue her dream. She never could have imagined the places and experiences this calling would take her - certainly well beyond what her five year old self imagined. And now that she is that FBI woman who walks into a room with confidence and takes charge, she is looking forward to her retirement in the next year or two to spend more time with family and her partner Linda. It seems that Lora is somewhat amazed herself at the path she has taken and she ponders what she will pursue next… maybe teaching or philosophy. Confident in Lora’s tenacity and her desire to be of service to others we know that whatever she chooses to do, she will continue to amaze us and make St. Edmund proud.
