Adam Cheyer
AI Pioneer | Creator of Siri & Bixby | Serial Entrepreneur — Startups Acquired by Apple, Samsung, Cognizant & Airbnb | Award-Winning Magician
Eric O’Neill
Legendary FBI Spy Hunter & Cybersecurity Expert | USA Today Bestselling Author of Spies, Lies and Cybercrime | Founder, The Georgetown Group & Nexasure AI
Few keynote speakers have actually lived the stories they tell. A former FBI operative who went undercover to catch America's most damaging spy, Eric O'Neill now turns that experience into gripping keynotes on cybersecurity, AI-driven threats, and the dark web economy. A USA Today bestselling author, attorney, and founder of two security firms, he arms senior audiences with the mindset and tactics of a spy hunter to outsmart today's toughest adversaries.
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Eric O’Neill biography
Cybersecurity speaker Eric O’Neill is a former FBI operative, attorney, and founder of The Georgetown Group and Nexasure AI. His career sits at the crossroads of national security, counterintelligence, and the fast-moving world of cyber threats, and his firsthand account of catching the most damaging spy in FBI history has made him one of the most riveting voices in cybersecurity today.
O’Neill began as a graduate of the FBI’s Intelligence Program, spending his first five years as a field operative in a special surveillance group that tracked foreign and domestic terrorists and spies. He then took on a single high-stakes undercover assignment: expose his own boss, Robert Hanssen, a 25-year Bureau veteran who was selling secrets to the Russians. Working inside the FBI’s newly created Information Assurance Division, O’Neill helped bring down what remains widely regarded as the worst security breach in United States history. Hanssen was arrested in February 2001, sentenced to 15 consecutive life terms, and died in a federal supermax prison in 2023.
From the FBI to the Front Lines of Cybersecurity
O’Neill’s undercover operation inspired the thriller Breach (2007), in which Ryan Phillippe played O’Neill opposite Chris Cooper, and is chronicled in his acclaimed memoir Gray Day: My Undercover Mission to Expose America’s First Cyber Spy (Crown/Penguin Random House). His latest book, Spies, Lies and Cybercrime: Cybersecurity Tactics to Outsmart Hackers and Disarm Scammers (HarperCollins, 2025), landed as an instant USA Today bestseller and an Amazon number one bestseller, cementing his standing as a leading authority on how people and organizations can defend against modern cyber threats.
An honors graduate of Auburn University and The George Washington University School of Law, O’Neill worked as a national security strategist before founding The Georgetown Group, now a premier investigative and security consultancy in Washington, D.C. The firm specializes in counterintelligence, economic espionage, cybersecurity penetrations, AI-fueled attacks, and security risk assessment. He later founded Nexasure AI, an intelligence-driven advisory that bridges the gap between business and technology.
As a speaker, Eric O’Neill delivers bespoke, edge-of-your-seat keynotes built on real operations and frontline experience. He decodes the threats organizations face now, from AI-generated deepfakes and ransomware to dark web criminal networks whose combined thefts rival the size of the world’s third largest economy. His clients include Acronis, AT&T, Dell, FedEx, Honeywell, McKinsey, and Salesforce, along with universities and global associations. Audiences leave with practical counterintelligence techniques and a clear sense of how to protect their data, their money, and their reputation.
Eric O’Neill Speaking Videos
Eric O'Neill Speaking Sizzle Reel
Spies, Lies, and Cybercrime with Eric O'Neill
Eric O’Neill Keynote Topics
Step onto the front lines of modern cyber warfare, where state-sponsored operatives, deepfake technology, and dark web syndicates converge on organizations like yours. As generative AI supercharges criminal operations, global cybertheft is on track to top 20 trillion dollars. Drawing on real operations and current cases, cybersecurity expert and former FBI spy hunter Eric O'Neill teaches audiences to think like a counterintelligence operative and build defenses that hold.
Attendees learn why cybercrime is the fastest-growing illicit economy on earth, how espionage networks feed dark web attacks, and which counterintelligence techniques they can apply right away to protect themselves and their organizations.
AI-generated voices, videos, and images are no longer hypothetical risks; they are active weapons. From ransomware crews that hold data hostage to fabricated video calls that trick teams into approving fraudulent transfers, the newest attacks exploit trust at every level. Eric O'Neill breaks down the most startling real-world cases of AI-fueled deception and lays out a clear framework for spotting and shutting down these threats before they hit the bottom line.
Audiences will see how generative AI has scaled and sharpened cybercrime, learn to recognize deepfake-driven attacks, and leave with concrete steps to protect themselves and their organizations from AI-powered fraud.
You will never see James Bond brief your leadership team, but you can hear from the real thing. Eric O'Neill weaves his edge-of-your-seat account of catching the most dangerous spy in FBI history into a motivational session on leadership, resilience, and disciplined execution. Drawing on his bestselling memoir Gray Day and the film Breach, he shares how he delivered on a mission with no playbook, little support, and everything on the line.
Key takeaways include how to create opportunities instead of waiting for them, how to turn setbacks into strategic advantage, why preparation and contingency planning separate top performers from the rest, and how to pursue organizational goals with the precision of a counterintelligence operative.
Speaker topics
FAQs on Booking Eric O’Neill
Why Eric O'Neill?
Few speakers can offer what Eric O'Neill brings to the stage: he actually lived the counterintelligence thriller he describes. As the FBI operative who went undercover to expose Robert Hanssen, the most damaging spy in United States history, he turns real espionage experience into keynotes that are equal parts gripping and practical. Audiences do not just hear war stories; they leave with counterintelligence tactics they can use to protect their data, their money, and their reputation. Aurum Speakers Bureau books Eric O'Neill for corporate events, associations, and executive audiences worldwide.
Is Eric O'Neill the FBI agent who caught Robert Hanssen?
Yes. As a young FBI operative, Eric O'Neill was placed undercover alongside Robert Hanssen, a 25-year Bureau veteran who had been selling secrets to the Russians. O'Neill's work directly contributed to Hanssen's arrest in February 2001, in a case widely regarded as the worst security breach in United States history. The operation inspired the 2007 film Breach, in which Ryan Phillippe played O'Neill opposite Chris Cooper.
What books has Eric O'Neill written?
Eric O'Neill has written two books. Gray Day: My Undercover Mission to Expose America's First Cyber Spy (Crown/Penguin Random House) is his acclaimed memoir of the Hanssen investigation told from the inside. His latest, Spies, Lies and Cybercrime: Cybersecurity Tactics to Outsmart Hackers and Disarm Scammers (HarperCollins, 2025), became an instant USA Today bestseller and an Amazon number one bestseller, translating his frontline experience into practical defense strategies for individuals and organizations.
What does Eric O'Neill speak about?
Eric O'Neill delivers keynotes on AI-generated threats and deepfakes, ransomware and cyber extortion, dark web criminal networks, corporate espionage, and the counterintelligence techniques organizations can use to defend their data. He also speaks on leadership, resilience, and mission execution, drawing on his undercover FBI career to connect with business audiences. For keynote descriptions, availability, and tailored proposals, event organizers can contact Aurum Speakers Bureau.
How to book Eric O’Neill as a keynote speaker?
Aurum Speakers Bureau can help you book Eric O’Neill as a speaker for your next event, conference, or board meeting. Simply fill out our contact form to inquire about Eric O’Neill's availability for a speaking engagement. One of our booking agents will respond to your request immediately and contact the speaker to let them know you want to hire them. We will assist you with obtaining speaking fees, booking information, and confirming availability for Eric O’Neill or any other top keynote speaker or celebrity of your choice.
How much is Eric O’Neill speaking fee?
Eric O’Neill speaking fees are determined by several factors, including the event's date, whether it's a virtual or in-person event, the duration, format, preparation required for their speech, and more. The same applies to the cost to hire any other top expert speakers and celebrities. The Speaker Fee Range listed on our website is simply a guideline and is subject to change without notice. If you would like to hire Eric O’Neill to deliver a keynote speech for your event, please fill out the contact form or email us at info@aurumbureau.com with as much detail as possible. One of our experienced agents will get in touch with you and let you know exactly how much it will cost to book Eric O’Neill.
How can I contact Eric O’Neill?
We only work with Eric O’Neill on paid speaking engagements. Aurum Speakers Bureau can assist you in booking Eric O’Neill and will handle all negotiations, contracts, and logistics associated with having Eric O’Neill speak at your event. We will be your sole point of contact throughout the process. Get in touch with Aurum Speakers Bureau today, and we will reach out to any motivational speaker or celebrity you want to enquire about speaking at your event. If you wish to contact Eric O’Neill for any other reason, we will be unable to assist you as we are not authorized to provide personal contact information.
Can I book Eric O’Neill for a virtual keynote?
Yes, Eric O’Neill is available for virtual keynotes and webinars. To book Eric O’Neill for a virtual event, please complete the contact form or send us an email to inquire about the special fees for virtual engagements.
