PITTSBURGH — It is not unusual to see a man in a suit walking the halls of the FBI’s South Side building.
”Good morning.”
But this suit is not an agent of an administrator, it is the agency’s chaplain.
”The church has seven famous last words, ‘we never did it this way before.’ The FBI’s a bit like that,” said Rev. Steven McKeown, FBI Pittsburgh Chaplain.
Rev. Steven McKeown was in the inaugural class to become a chaplain for the FBI more than 30 years ago.
Every Wednesday, he wanders the halls saying ‘Hi’ and sharing a story with whomever is nearby.
”It’s well thought of when you see a smiling face coming your way rather than being fully engaged in a dark, dark investigation,” said Scott Argiro, Assistant Special Agent in Charge, FBI Pittsburgh.
It’s the type of connection that is critical during the worse moments.
FBI Assistant Special Agent In-Charge Scott Argiro has spent a decade in the Pittsburgh field office, leaning on Rev. McKeown during some of this darkest times.
“The Tree of Life, the Franklin Regional stabbing, all events I experienced in my FBI career. I know Rev. McKeown was here the day of or the day after and experiencing some of those tragedies with us,” said Argiro.
On Wednesday, that commitment was recognized by the FBI, honoring 30 years of service in the Pittsburgh field office.
Rev. McKeown says it is just as important to be there for the good moments as it is the bad.
That means the office smiles and occasional jokes will continue.
It’s a little known gesture outside of the walls that’s become a critical part of the agency.
“It comes from those within the organization who feel I can help here in some way. That was a blessing,” said Rev. McKeown. McKeown told Channel 11 that he has no plans on retiring and will continue to offer counsel to the men and women of the FBI.
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