Sarah Chervenak Bolcar grew up in Columbus, Georgia with her parents and two siblings. Her love of soccer began at an early age when organized soccer was new to Columbus, playing on co-ed teams throughout her elementary and middle school years. Sarah attended Brookstone School and was a leader on the girls’ high school soccer team. During her senior year, with an insufficient number of girls to form a full squad, Sarah competed on the Brookstone boys’ soccer team, and as a starter, helped lead the team to the state tournament. That same year, Sarah was selected for the girls state all-star soccer game, and was a member of club soccer on one of the first girls’ travel soccer teams in the area.

Sarah attended Wesleyan College in Macon, Georgia from 1989 – 1993 and earned her Juris Doctorate from the Cumberland School of Law, Samford University, in 1996. While at Wesleyan, Sarah played soccer for four years and served as team captain. Upon graduation, Sarah’s number 6 soccer jersey was retired in recognition of her athletic achievements and leadership. From 1993 – 2008, Sarah continued to play organized soccer on a number of women’s and co-ed adult teams in Alabama, Los Angeles, Virginia, and Washington, D.C. She has also completed numerous marathons, ultramarathons, triathlons, and Ironman competitions.

Sarah entered on duty with the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) in 1997 as a Special Agent. Her first assignment was to the Washington Field Office where she served 11 years. During her time in Washington, Sarah worked cases and investigations in international terrorism and cyber counterterrorism. She was a case agent for the September 11, 2001, attack on the Pentagon, and was responsible for numerous cases having a nexus to the 9/11 attacks. Sarah transferred to the Los Angeles Field Office in 2008 to serve as a Special Agent on the Joint Terrorism Task Force, where she worked complex counterterrorism cases. From 2010 – 2021, Sarah worked at FBI Headquarters in Washington, D.C., where she was responsible for numerous national level priority programs and initiatives. In addition to other commendations throughout her career, Sarah received the Director’s Award for Excellence and the FBI Medal of Excellence.

Sarah retired from the FBI in March 2021 with 24 years of global law enforcement experience, and accepted a position with the Institute for Intergovernmental Research in April 2021. As a Senior Research Associate, Ms. Chervenak continues to provide support to law enforcement and criminal justice programs and initiatives in defense of national security.

Sarah lives in Virginia with her husband, Keith (retired FBI), and their son, Miko. They share a love for soccer, and Sarah and Keith enjoy watching Miko score goals as a striker on his 2010 travel team, as well as on his school team in Potomac, Maryland.