Eric O’Neill

Eric O’Neill is a former U.S. prosecutor and security consultant, known worldwide for his crucial role in the capture of the most damaging spy in U.S. history: Robert Hanssen. His life is a tale of counterintelligence, trust, and betrayal that inspired the acclaimed 2007 film Breach. With his unique expertise in detecting internal threats, O’Neill has become a global authority on cybersecurity and data protection.

His career at the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) placed him at the center of the most sensitive counterintelligence operation of the early 21st century. In 2001, O’Neill was assigned to work directly under Robert Hanssen, a veteran agent who, for more than 20 years, sold national security secrets to the Soviet Union and, later, to Russia. O’Neill’s mission was to spy on the spy, gathering the evidence needed to expose Hanssen’s treason—an achievement considered a key victory for U.S. security.

Following the Hanssen case, O’Neill left the FBI to complete his law degree at George Washington University. He is currently the founder of The Georgetown Group, an investigative and security consulting firm specializing in corporate-level counterintelligence and cybersecurity operations. He has also worked as a National Security Strategist for major technology companies, advising on data protection and the mitigation of internal and external threats. His experience led him to write his book Gray Day (2019).

Eric O’Neill’s legacy extends beyond his heroism in counterintelligence to his work as an expert and speaker. His presentations explore the evolution of espionage into cyberespionage, highlighting the importance of the human factor in cybersecurity. O’Neill emphasizes that Hanssen was the first “cyber-spy,” using the FBI’s internet-connected databases to carry out his treason. His message inspires executives to build a culture of “data resilience” and to think like spy hunters.