FARRIS ROOKSTOOL, III

Farris Rookstool III is trusted by heads of state, government leaders, and cultural institutions for his integrity, thoroughness, and forensic discipline in uncovering historical truth. Recognized as one of the only professional forensic historians in the world, he applies investigative methods with courtroom-level rigor to history’s greatest mysteries — combining evidence-based precision with award-winning storytelling that resonates on screen and stage.

During his distinguished career with the FBI, Rookstool served as the Bureau’s primary resource for the JFK Task Force, spending more than nine years analyzing over 500,000 pages of classified files and producing 3,500 follow-up reports. The assassination of President John F. Kennedy remains the most complex criminal investigation in American history — and Rookstool is widely regarded as its foremost expert.

He was the only FBI analyst granted access to the National Archives’ Southwest Region vault, where the records of Parkland Hospital’s Trauma Room One were stored. He personally transported all official FBI assassination records from Dallas to Washington, D.C., and briefed the Attorney General, the FBI Director, and members of Congress. His expertise on the Kennedy assassination remains globally recognized.

As an FBI Analyst and member of both the Hostage Negotiation Team and the Evidence Response Team, Rookstool worked on major cases, including:

• Delta 191 Airline Crash
• Waco Siege
• Federal Response to the Los Angeles Riots
• Oklahoma City Bombing
• Judge Robert Vance Assassination
• Several Top 10 Fugitive Cases

With the FBI’s DNA Analysis Unit, he also pioneered the first method for extracting DNA from stamps and envelopes — a breakthrough later used in the 1993 World Trade Center Bombing and the Unabomber investigation.

Today, Rookstool brings his forensic historian’s approach to identifying, authenticating, and preserving historical treasures, solving complex cases, and engaging global audiences through keynote speaking and documentary film. His insatiable curiosity, investigative discipline, and storytelling skill ensure that the historic truth is not only far more interesting — it actively shapes the future.

Rookstool has been chosen to address some of the world’s most discerning audiences, including:

• United States Secret Service (USSS)
• Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)
• Central Intelligence Agency (CIA)
• Royal Canadian Mounted Police
• MI-5, INTERPOL, and the International Chiefs of Police
• Col. Yigal Carmon
• IDF Counterterrorism Advisor to Prime Ministers Yitzhak Shamir & Yitzhak Rabin
• H.S.H. Prince Albert of Monaco

Rookstool has contributed to award-winning productions recognized with a George Foster Peabody® Award, an Emmy® Award, and an Academy Award® nomination. He has appeared as a historical advisor and on-air expert for CNN, ABC News, NBC News, CBS News, Discovery Channel, PBS (Frontline), C-SPAN, and The History Channel. His rare combination of forensic authority and cinematic storytelling makes him one of the most trusted voices for audiences seeking the truth behind history’s greatest mysteries.

Keynote Speaker | Film & TV | Museum Work | Tributes & Markers | Cases & Trials | Historical Authentication | Published Works