James Tanda

James Tanda is currently a full-time Criminal Justice Instructor at Waynesburg University, where he teaches a number of undergraduate courses including Terrorism, Homeland Security and Criminal Investigations. Mr. Tanda also teaches Interview and Interrogation and Advanced Interview and Interrogation in the Master of Arts in Criminal Investigation (MACI) program. 

Mr. Tanda retired after 27 years of federal law enforcement experience, including 24 as a Special Agent with ATF in the U.S. Dept. of Justice, and three with the Federal Bureau of Prisons with assignment to the U.S. Marshal’s Office.

Mr. Tanda served the last 10 years of his ATF career as the Resident Agent in Charge of the Pittsburgh and Erie ATF Offices, where he supervised federal criminal investigations ranging from bombings and explosives cases to arson for profit and serial arsons, firearms trafficking, gangs, gun and drug, undercover operations, and other cases involving violent crime, terrorism or organized crime.

Mr. Tanda was a Certified Explosives Expert for over 15 years with ATF, during which he traveled the world as a recognized subject matter expert teaching explosives, IED’s and post blast investigative techniques to international law enforcement audiences.  He is currently a professional Contractor for the U.S. Dept. of Justice at the National Center for Explosives Training and Research in Huntsville, AL.

Mr. Tanda is a Nationally Certified Law Enforcement Instructor and has taught thousands of local, state, federal and private industry audiences, ranging from arson for profit and serial arson, advanced interviewing and interrogation techniques, bombing investigations and associated fraud.

Mr. Tanda is a court recognized expert in both explosives and arson in both Federal and State Courts (Maryland and Pennsylvania).

Mr. Tanda has a Bachelor of Arts Degree from Indiana University of Pennsylvania in Criminology and Pre-Law.  Mr. Tanda has a Master’s Degree in Criminal Investigation from Waynesburg University where he also assisted in developing its course curriculum and instructor cadre.  

B.A. in Pre-Law and Criminology from Indiana University of Pennsylvania; M.A., Waynesburg University