Eric O'Neill

Eric O’Neill is an attorney, security consultant and professional public speaker. In 2001, Eric helped capture the most notorious spy in United States history: Robert Hanssen, a 25-year veteran of the FBI. The remarkable true events of his life are the inspiration behind the critically acclaimed dramatic thriller Breach, starring Ryan Philippe as O'Neill. The film is the story of the greatest security breach in US history.

Eric began his career in the FBI as a “Ghost” – an undercover field operative tasked to surveil and monitor foreign, national, and domestic terrorists and spies. During the Hanssen investigation, Eric worked directly undercover with the spy within the FBI’s Information Assurance Division – created to protect all classified FBI intelligence.

Currently, O'Neill runs The Georgetown Group, an investigative and security consultancy, where he specializes in counterintelligence operations, economic espionage investigations, cyber security, internal investigations, security risk assessment and diligence analysis out of Washington, DC.*

 

Presentation Topics

An Insider’s Look into the Robert Hanssen Investigation: How the FBI Caught the Worst Spy in American History.  

Learn intricate details of the investigation that caught the most damaging spy in United States History. Robert Hanssen spied for the Soviet Union and Russia for over 22 years.  The FBI had a very narrow window of just a few months to catch him.  This is the story of how we succeeded in one of the most impressive undercover operations ever orchestrated by the FBI.

 

A Spy Story: Setting Goals & Achieving Them through Courage, Confidence & Determination.  

This motivational keynote is Eric's personal story of acting to take control of any situation and excel, not just succeed.  Imagine being locked in a room for eight hours a day with the most ruthless and damaging spy in United States history.  Imagine feeling unqualified and outgunned, knowing that the country depends on you to succeed despite the fact that no one has provided the means to do so.  Eric's story is not just an edge of your seat spy thriller.  It is a story about discovering tools for success inside oneself by setting small goals that lead to big accomplishments until finally, through courage, confidence and determination, victory is achieved.

 

The Human Element: The Weakest Link In Every Security System Is Not A Computer.  

Security professionals must not only look outward when securing a system, they must become spy hunters, looking for internal exploits and penetrations that may not be easy to detect. Includes an analysis of Edward Snowden and other recent internal penetrations.

 

Corporate Security: The Top Ten Things You Should Be Doing To Secure Your Company.

This personal list was compiled over decades of work as an undercover operative in the FBI and security consultant.  The keynote is a hot topic format of issues that are most critical to protecting information, set in a narrative of true stories that inform with actionable learning while they entertain.

 

How The World Will End: Cyber Security In A Shrinking World.

The global phenomenon of information sharing has created extraordinary innovation in communication, but has also become a gold mine for cyber criminals.  This topic explores the current cyber threats facing industry, government and private individuals, from threats to national infrastructure, to corporate espionage and cyber terrorism, to identity theft and online fraud.

*Limited Availability. Pricing Restrictions Apply.

Eric O'Neill is available to speak at your event virtually or in-person. Contact our sales team for more information.

The Spy Museum does not endorse, approve, or support the opinions stated by the speakers. Statements made by presenters do not represent the position or opinion of the International Spy Museum.