MANCHESTER — After completing the 11-week FBI National Academy for law enforcement leaders, Manchester Police Capt. Nick Willard said, “you come back a better leader. It challenges you.”

That's the goal of the academy, which has four sessions a year for officers — lieutenant or the equivalent — in law enforcement and the military from all 50 states, U.S. territories and approximately 150 international partner nations.

The academy, on the FBI grounds in Quantico, Va., includes classes in law, behavioral science, forensic science, understanding terrorism/terrorist mindsets, leadership development, communication and health/fitness.

That's just part of what participants are expected to gain from attending the Academy, to which they must be nominated and selected.

Willard, who commands the Investigations Division of the Manchester department, said attending the academy helps participants remember that as commanders, “the most important people are those under our command.”

In the 247th academy that Willard attended from Oct. 2 to Dec. 16, 2011, there were 270 men and women from 49 states and 25 other countries.

“The networking is exceptional,” Willard said.

Willard said learning from one another, comparing experiences and techniques with people from larger or smaller departments and other countries was amazing.

“It validates the things you are doing right,” he said. But even better, he said, ”we come back with a lot of great ideas.”

It's also an opportunity to assess. “Are you efficient? Can you do it better?” he said.

Willard said he has already been in contact with some of his classmates. He and Manchester Chief David Mara recently went to the Cambridge, Mass., police department to meet with Willard's classmate, Deputy Supt. Steven DeMarco.

“We picked his brain,” said Willard, about evidence issues and other matters, looking ahead to the Manchester department's move to a new building.

He also looks forward to reunions, including one for a meeting of the Northeast chapter of the FBI National Academy Associates in Newport, R.I., this summer.

“You learn from their experiences, their leadership style,” he said. “I was open to ideas.”

Willard, who was chosen by his classmates to give the graduation speech for the 247th session, said he also came back with great friends.

One is Detroit Homicide Lt. Steve Walton, who said vote totals weren't announced, but he thinks the vote was a landslide for Willard.

The academy was split into six groups and each group selected a member to “audition” for the job of class president. Five of the six gave what could probably be described as campaign speeches, while Willard's theme was different.

“Nick captured my vote with his passion. He spoke of how some people in the class had already made an impact on him. He went on to talk about his partner, who was killed in the line of duty. It was obvious that Nick was extremely proud to be a law enforcement officer and he was appreciative of the job others in law enforcement do,” Walton said.

In talking to others after the speech, Walton said, it was clear that many people were moved by Nick's passion.

Walter said by his speech and actions: “Nick has an ability to make people feel good about themselves.”

The other five section speakers received a gift from Willard after the speech competition. Because he treasures the flag flown over the Capitol, which was given to him by U.S. Sen. Kelly Ayotte, he arranged for her to provide five more flags, with certificates, that he presented to the other speakers.

Willard said he treasures the sense of community that developed at the academy. He normally marks the anniversary of the death of Officer Michael Briggs, who was fatally shot Oct. 16, 2006, with fellow officers at the New Hampshire Veterans Cemetery in Boscawen and speaks with Briggs' widow. But Willard was in Quantico when the anniversary arrived last October, so he decided to visit the National Law Enforcement Memorial in Washington, D.C., where Briggs' name is carved.

Six of his classmates learned of his plan and asked if they could join him.

After the visit, he texted a picture of Briggs' name to his widow. She called Willard and was uplifted by hearing of Willard's classmates accompanying him.

DeMarco, who was not in Willard's section, but voted for him as class president, said it was an easy decision.

“He is engaging and courageous enough to take on the most challenging subjects affecting policing today. . .He wants to make a difference and inspire others to engage in dialogue and debate as to best practices to improve the law enforcement profession, legitimacy and integrity.”

Equally important, said DeMarco, “Nick showed that he wants to collaborate and make improvements in our abilities to foster meaningful relationships with our communities.”

Willard said one of the best things about the academy was “nobody was bigger than anybody else. You leave your rank at the door.”

Willard's passion for the men and women he works with in Manchester — “I am fiercely proud of the Manchester Police Department” — was evident to his academy classmates. So was his passion for others in law enforcement and the families who provide critical support, in his graduation speech.

In the Dec. 16 speech, Willard named members of the class, citing their courage, their integrity, their perseverance and sacrifices, and the losses some suffered in their departments while they were attending the Academy.

But he also spoke of the sacrifices made by the families of law enforcement officers.

“They suffer from our absences — missed birthdays, holidays, sporting events and school field trips,” he said. And then there is “the silent, unexpressed fear. . .they just want us to come home to them safe.”