Draft:William Tafoya
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William L. Tafoya is an American criminologist, former FBI special agent,[1] and academic recognized for his pioneering work in cybercrime investigation, behavioral profiling, and law enforcement futurism. He is currently a senior consultant with Park Dietz & Associates, specializing in cybercrime, terrorism, and national security.[2]
Early life and education
[edit]Tafoya served in combat with the 3rd Reconnaissance Battalion, 3rd Marine Division of the United States Marine Corps during the Vietnam War. Following his military service, he earned a Bachelor of Science from San Jose State University in 1973, a Master of Public Administration from the University of Southern California in 1974, and a Ph.D. in Criminology from the University of Maryland in 1986. His doctoral dissertation, A Delphi Forecast of the Future of Law Enforcement[3], established him as a leading figure in police futurism.[4]
FBI career
[edit]Tafoya served as a special agent with the FBI from 1975 to 1995. During his tenure, he conducted undercover operations in Washington, D.C., worked on counterintelligence cases in San Francisco, and served as a behavioral advisor to the UNABOM Task Force from 1991 to 1993. His 1993 behavioral assessment of the Unabomber closely matched the profile of Ted Kaczynski,[5] who was arrested in 1996.[4]
He was the first law enforcement officer to use the Internet for investigative purposes, creating the FBI’s first web pages for the Unabomber case in 1993 and the Oklahoma City bombing investigation in 1995. Using these pages he collected and analysed thousands of leads submitted on-line, as well as leveraging the power of the Internet to collect OSINT about these cases.[6][7]
From 1980 to 1991, Tafoya served as a senior faculty member at the FBI Academy, contributing to both the Behavioral Science Unit and the Computer Crimes Unit. He participated in the development of an automated profiling system using artificial intelligence.[2]
Between July 1989 and July 1990, he was a Congressional Research Fellow with the 101st Congress, researching the future impact of high technology on law enforcement. He is the only law enforcement officer known to have served in that role.[2]
Academic career
[edit]After retiring from the FBI, Tafoya became Director of the Office of International Criminal Justice at the University of Chicago, then became Professor of Criminology at Governs State University. From 2001 to 2019, he served as a professor at the Henry C. Lee College of Criminal Justice at the University of New Haven, where he taught intelligence studies, cybercrime investigation, and research methods. He retired as Professor Emeritus.[2]
He has also taught at the University of South Florida, focusing on digital forensics and cybercrime investigation[8].[2]
Research and publications
[edit]Tafoya has published extensively on topics including behavioral assessment of computer criminals, cyberterrorism, and intrusion detection. His work includes the chapter “Criminal Investigation Analysis and Behavior: Characteristics of Computer Criminals,” in which he explores profiling methods used for computer crime suspects.[9]
Professional affiliations and honors
[edit]Tafoya has served on Cybercrime Advisory Boards for the U.S. Department of Justice and is a member of the University of South Florida’s Cybercrime Advisory Board.[2] In 2009, he was selected as an Academic Fellow of the Foundation for the Defense of Democracies, traveling to Tel Aviv, Israel, to interview convicted terrorists.[2]
He is the founder of the Society of Police Futurists International, which he established in 1991.[6]
References
[edit]- ^ "William Tafoya". FBI: Law Enforcement Bulletin. Retrieved May 5, 2025.
- ^ a b c d e f g "Dr. William L. Tafoya". Park Dietz & Associates. Retrieved May 5, 2025.
- ^ Tafoya, William L. (1986). A Delphi Forecast of the Future of Law Enforcement. University of Maryland.
- ^ a b "Testimony of Dr. William Tafoya" (PDF). President's Commission on the Advancement of Federal Law Enforcement. Retrieved May 5, 2025.
- ^ Kaempffer, William (March 19, 2004). "Profiler says FBI didn't believe Unabomber file". https://www.nhregister.com/.
{{cite web}}: External link in|website= - ^ a b "William Tafoya". InfoConDB. Retrieved May 5, 2025.
- ^ Press, Associated (December 31, 1993). "FBI SEEKS MAIL BOMBER VIA A NOTICE ON INTERNET". The Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved May 5, 2025.
- ^ "MS Cybercrime Advisory Board". www.usf.edu. Retrieved May 5, 2025.
- ^ "Criminal Investigation Analysis and Behavior: Characteristics of Computer Criminals". University of New Haven. Retrieved May 5, 2025.
