Fred Burton

Fred Burton is a globally recognized security and terrorism expert. He currently serves as the Executive Director of the Ontic Center for Protective Intelligence and is the Vice President of Intelligence for Stratfor, where he oversees the organization's terrorism intelligence service. Burton consults with various clients on security-related issues that affect their organizational or personal safety, drawing on his deep expertise in terrorism, security, and executive protection. He leads a dedicated team of experts monitoring security issues across significant regions, including the extensive activities of Mexican drug cartels.

Burton is a prolific author and a New York Times Bestselling Author, with acclaimed works such as "GHOST: Confessions of a Counterterrorism Agent", which explores his experiences fighting terrorism in the 1980s and beyond. His other notable books include "Chasing Shadows: A Special Agent's Lifelong Hunt to Bring a Cold War Assassin to Justice", "Under Fire: The Untold Story of the Attack in Benghazi", and "Beirut Rules: The Murder of a CIA Station Chief and Hezbollah’s War Against America". These publications underscore his lifelong dedication to investigating key terrorism events and threats.

Before his current roles, Burton had an impactful career as a special agent in counterterrorism at the U.S. Department of State. His notable achievements include orchestrating the arrest of Ramzi Yousef, the mastermind behind the first World Trade Center bombing, and his participation in investigations following the assassination of Israeli Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin and various al Qaeda-related plots. His expertise has led to his recognition by Security Magazine as one of the Most Influential People in Security in 2021. He has also shared his insights at prestigious forums, including the University of Texas at Austin and the Texas National Security Forum, and has been featured on major national media outlets for his terrorism expertise.