Clinton R. Van Zandt

Clinton R. Van Zandt was with the FBI for 25 years where he served as a Supervisor with the FBI's internationally respected Behavioral Science or "Silence of the Lambs" Unit. He was also the FBI's Chief Hostage Negotiator and managed the FBI's Major Case/Crisis Management Program. Prior to this, he was an Agent with U.S. Army Intelligence and is a Vietnam War veteran. He served as the primary hostage negotiator for numerous high-profile national and international kidnap and hostage situations and has testified before the U.S. Senate.

He managed both the FBI's Crisis Management and Major Case Management Programs and has assisted companies across the U.S. and around the globe with their Crisis Management and Violence in the Workplace Programs. Additionally, Van Zandt regularly consults on these matters and other subjects such as corporate crises, workplace violence, and business negotiation techniques, sharing his expertise at various corporate and educational events.

As an FBI Profiler and Hostage Negotiator, he personally negotiated with Branch Davidian cult leader David Koresh in Waco, Texas, and conducted negotiations that led to the release of hostages held by prison rioters, and kidnap victims held by both South American guerrillas and terrorists in the Philippines. He correctly profiled Oklahoma City bomber Timothy McVeigh on the day of the bombing and led the analytical team that helped identify the "Unabomber." Van Zandt is also known for solving famous unsolved cases and discussing historical mysteries, such as the identity of Jack the Ripper.

A well-known author and television and radio commentator concerning crime and human behavior, Van Zandt has made more television appearances than any other FBI Agent in history, to include over 3,000 national and international TV shows and has appeared on programs such as "The Today Show," "Larry King Live," "Dr. Phil," and "The Oprah Winfrey Show." He is currently NBC/MSNBC TV's Chief On-air Criminal Analyst. His life and career were profiled in "The New Yorker Magazine," and Court TV aired a biography on his life ("The Negotiator").

His book, "Facing down Evil, Life on the Edge as an FBI Hostage Negotiator" (2006), is available nationwide and has been published in multiple languages. His other book, "Dynamic Processes of Crisis Negotiation" (1997), won the 1998 Best Book Award by The International Association for Conflict Management.

Van Zandt's seminars, lectures, and speeches are engaging and informative, offering insights into human behavior, crisis management, and negotiation. He holds a bachelor's, a master's, and two doctorate academic degrees, and continues to lecture widely, including on cruise ships and at major corporate and social events.