How an English Degree Paved the Way for FBI Agent Tim Lynch ('99)

Tim Lynch (‘99), pictured right, has served as an FBI agent for 21 years. An English graduate, Lynch’s role currently involves coordinating the U.S. Intelligence Community’s strategy to mitigate the illicit use of digital assets and communicating it to the National Security Council. 

Lynch occasionally finds himself in the White House Situation Room, and wrote that “my English degree put me in that room.”  

Q: What was your favorite class you took in the English department?

Lynch: No “favorite” class, but a most impactful one: technical writing. Describe an object to someone who has never seen it; explain how something works to someone who has never used it. It’s harder than it sounds. Now try writing a report concisely summarizing an international criminal organization involving dozens of subjects and shell companies, hundreds of victims, and millions of dollars. Technical writing gave me skills I used throughout my career to write detailed affidavits summarizing complex conspiracies, including one leading to the indictment of a $75M international fraud kingpin due to be sentenced in February. 

Q: What is your most fond memory of JMU English/JMU as a whole?

Lynch: Meeting my wife and fellow English major, Molly! We met at a fraternity formal in April 1996 and have been inseparable ever since. I am one of the few who can thank the English department for my education and spouse.  Molly is my best friend; we have been through everything together. Whenever we had an argument at JMU, we made up on the same bench at the Arboretum. A few years ago, we bought that bench; it now sits on our front porch as a special JMU memento. I’m happy to report we only use it for decoration. 

Q: What were you involved with outside of the English department? 

Lynch: I was in a fraternity all four years. I was Community Service chair, Vice President, then served my last year as Secretary. I was introverted when I arrived at JMU, but Greek life forced me to be outgoing and brave enough to lead in something other than sports. My fraternity experience began a lifelong trend of being recruited for interesting leadership opportunities based almost entirely on my strengths as a speaker and writer. 

Q: What do you do for work now? 

Lynch: I’m proud to have served as an FBI Agent for 21 years. I started out in a small office in Harrisburg, PA, working a wide variety of cases: crimes against children, interstate auto theft, white collar crime, and public corruption. I served as an FBI Academy instructor, then transferred to our Washington Field Office where I was a complex financial crimes investigator and supervisor. I was recently promoted to the new position of Cryptocurrency Coordinator, where I manage [the] FBI Cyber Division’s efforts to combat the illicit use of cryptocurrency involving international crypto heists, ransomware, terrorism financing, and cyber fraud. I’m punching far above my weight in this role and am lucky to work with FBI subject matter experts who help me sound smarter than I am. FBI employees are outstanding. I’m so proud to be among them. 

Q: How has the English degree you earned from JMU contributed to success in your current professional endeavors? 

Lynch: Throughout my career, I’ve had many opportunities come my way that started with someone saying, “you’d be good for this,” based on my ability to write and speak well. My current FBI role involves coordinating the U.S. Intelligence Community’s strategy to mitigate the illicit use of digital assets and communicating it to the National Security Council, both in writing and occasionally in person in the White House Situation Room. My English degree put me in that room.  

Q: Are there any skills you learned during your time as an English major that benefitted you in your professional experiences?

Lynch: I was notorious for starting term papers the night before they were due. 12 hours or less before a deadline? That was me. Years later I was building probable cause to search the home of a man running a human trafficking ring. He fled an unrelated sting in NY, went on the run, shut down his website, and had his wife and girlfriend (both co-conspirators) drive north to pick him up. I knew he’d get back, pack up his house, and disappear. Our entire case was in that house and I knew we had to execute a search immediately. When my prosecutor said there was no way we could get an affidavit together that quickly I replied, “I’ve been training for this my whole life!” I spent all night writing and 24 hours later we searched the house, got our evidence, and dismantled the ring, convicting and sentencing a career con artist turned pimp to 12 years in prison. 

Q: How has your outlook on the value of an English degree evolved since graduating from JMU? 

Lynch: My business and ISAT friends still tease me about being an English major; I used to wonder if my degree had value. A friend and straight “A” business major received a “D” on an essay and asked me to review it. His hook sentence, introductory paragraph, and thesis were a single sentence. I told him a “D” was generous! In that moment I realized intelligence is useless without communication. I know from experience that critical reading, writing, and speaking skills are always in demand. I use my English major every day, in every interaction. It’s invaluable.  

Q: If you were to give advice to current JMU English majors, what would you say? 

Lynch: What can you do with an English major?  Anything you want.  Ignore the doubters, embrace the width and breadth of what the major offers, and become a first-class writer and communicator. Also:  Enjoy the ride, because JMU is magic. Go Dukes! 

This interview is one part in a series on English department alumni.