Christopher O’Leary is Senior Vice President for Global Operations at The Soufan Group. His career spans over two decades of service working on counterterrorism investigations and operations for the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
Christopher O’Leary
Senior Vice President - Global Operations
Christopher O’Leary joined The Soufan Group following over two decades of working on counterterrorism investigations and operations for the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). Before leaving federal service, Mr. O’Leary served as the U.S. Government’s Director of Hostage Rescue and Recovery, leading an interagency task force dedicated to the mission of safely bringing home Americans taken hostage abroad by a terrorist organization. He began his career with the FBI in the Minneapolis Field Office serving as a Special Agent on the Joint Terrorism Task Force (JTTF) and as an FBI SWAT Operator.
Over his career in counterterrorism, Mr. O’Leary served in numerous critical leadership roles including Supervisory Special Agent of the Al-Qaeda Squad of the New York JTTF, Unit Chief of the FBI’s elite Counterterrorism Fly Team, Assistant Special Agent in Charge of the New York JTTF, and Section Chief in the Counterterrorism Division at FBI Headquarters. Mr. O’Leary has extensive experience working on counterterrorism matters around the world jointly with U.S. Special Operations and Intelligence Community colleagues, as well as with Intelligence and Security Services from foreign partners.
Mr. O’Leary holds a bachelor’s degree in Middle Eastern Studies from Rutgers University and a master’s degree in Leadership and Management Studies from Georgetown University.
Our Leadership Team
- Ali SoufanChairman & CEO
- Max RoseVice Chairman
- Andre KhouryVice President - Strategic Partnerships
- Christopher O’LearySenior Vice President - Global Operations
- Susan SimVice President - Asia
- Ammar BarghoutyDirector of Cyber Consulting & Cyber Training
- Colin P. ClarkeDirector of Research
- Elijah FergusonDirector of Support Services
- Mohamed El ShaweshDirector of Digital Media
- Dave ShellenbergerDirector of Special Operations and Tactics
- Jillian KeschnerAnalyst
- Joseph ShelziAnalyst
- Patricia O’SheaExecutive Assistant and Office Manager
- Nathan SalesSenior Advisor
- Richard BarrettSenior Advisor
- Kenneth KatzmanSenior Advisor
- Thomas AlbrightCrisis Management & Preparedness Consultant
- Didier Bouakaze-KhanSenior Antiquities and Cultural Heritage Consultant
- Thomas O’ConnorSenior Consultant
- Audra DeWaltPublic Corruption Consultant
- Stephanie FoggettResearch Consultant
- Martin ReardonSenior Training Consultant
- Jeffrey RingelConsultant
- Michael SucciInfrastructure and Personnel Protection Consultant
- Melissa ThomasBehavioral Analysis Consultant
- Jason WarrenInfrastructure and Personnel Protection Consultant
- Brian A. AntolIntelligence Instructor
- Amjed KuriLaw Enforcement Instructor
- Eugene CaseyInstructor
- William CorbettInstructor
- Rita AbboudExpert Interpreter & Translator
- Rita El KhouryExpert Interpreter & Translator
- Cosette N. SalibaExpert Interpreter & Translator