John Douglas joined the FBI in 1970, starting his career as a sniper in a SWAT team and progressing on to become a hostage negotiator. In 1977 he transferred to the Behavioural Science Unit (BSU), where he taught applied criminal psychology. He created the FBI's Criminal Profiling Program and led this division of special agents through harrowing and groundbreaking cases, including those behind Anthony Hopkins' role as Hannibal Lecter. Douglas lives with his family in the Washington, DC area.