One local police captain is glad to be home for Christmas after spending 11 weeks at the FBI National Academy in Quantico.

Capt. Robert Ross graduated from the 258th session of the National Academy last Friday and returned home on Saturday. The intensive academy is widely regarded as the premier course of instruction for law enforcement executives.

“It’s just a great environment, I think, for police executives to go to,” Ross said. “It was a very good time. I enjoyed myself.”

Ross was among about 250 officers who completed the course, which began on Oct. 5. Participation is by invitation only after a nominating process.

The course included instruction in law, behavioral science, forensic science, terrorism, leadership development, communication and physical fitness.

“Everything we were talking about was really relevant to what’s happening in our profession,” he said.

Ross also said the experience of networking with colleagues from across the nation and around the world was meaningful.

“Basically, across the nation, a lot of the issues we are having are identical,” he said. “It was good to see how different agencies and different departments are handling some of the issues we see day to day.”

Ross joined the Suffolk Police Department on Jan. 17, 1989. After graduating from Virginia Tech in 1986, he had gotten a job as a park ranger in Chesapeake. At the time, Chesapeake sent its park rangers to the Chesapeake Police Academy, to which Suffolk also sent its officers at the time.

Ross started working as a park ranger but then decided he wanted to be in police work.

In 1993, Ross became a detective and worked in criminal investigations. He was promoted to sergeant in 2000 and to lieutenant in November 2012. On Jan. 31, 2013, he was promoted to captain.

He now is responsible for all of Suffolk’s Sector 1, which includes the downtown and southern areas of Suffolk. He supervises about 70 personnel.

Having been with the department for so long, “it’s nice to get a little re-invigorated in what you’re doing,” Ross said.

Ross added that he appreciates the city and department giving him the opportunity to go.

“I appreciate the people that had to cover my absence,” he added.

The FBI National Academy draws participants from every state in the nation, from U.S. territories and from more than 160 international partner nations. With 23 students in its first class in 1935, it has grown to its current enrollment of more than 1,000 students per year.