Episode 111: Ray Holcomb - The Looming Tower, John O'Neill, Yemen, and 9/11

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Retired agent Ray Holcomb reviews his memories of FBI hero and legend John O’Neill and working in Yemen with fellow agent Ali Soufan on the USS Cole bombing and 9/11 investigations.

Both John O’Neill and Ali Soufan are featured in the Hulu TV series The Looming Tower. This is part one of a two-part episode. See also, Episode 112: Ray Holcomb – Inside FBI Counterterrorism Post 9/11 (Part 2)

Raymond Holcomb served in the FBI for nearly 23 years. His Bureau assignments involved espionage, counter-narcotics, national security, and Special Weapons and Tactics, and took him across America, the Middle East, Afghanistan, and Africa.

While assigned to the New York Office, Ray Holcomb was appointed Commander of the 50 member FBI New York SWAT team.

Under his leadership, the team assumed an expanded role and, in addition to regular involvement in high-risk domestic arrests, the team provided overseas security and enhanced investigative capability for FBI teams deploying in response to terrorist attacks involving U.S. citizens.

Post 9/11, he was selected by then Director Mueller to stand up a new counterterrorism unit named the FBI Fly Away/Rapid Deployment Team. During his career as a counterterrorism investigator, Ray established extensive relationships with foreign police and intelligence services.

After retiring from the FBI, he worked for 8 years as a Strategic Planner with the National Counterterrorism Center (NCTC); and for 4 years as a State of Delaware Homeland Security Advisor.

He currently serves as a consultant to the federal government on terrorism and other national security-related matters. Ray Holcomb is the author of Endless Enemies: Inside FBI Counterterrorism in which he writes about leading the FBI’s elite cadre of counterterrorism agents at the helm of every major post-9/11 investigation.