Colton Seale spent 22 years as an FBI Special Agent before retiring as an Interrogation Team Leader and Head of Training for the High-Value Detainee Interrogation Group (HIG), an elite interagency interview and interrogation team.
Beginning his career in the FBI’s Anchorage Division, Colton conducted a diverse range of criminal investigations and thousands of interviews. He later transitioned to the FBI’s Counterterrorism Division Fly Team, where he spent six years primarily overseas interviewing terrorism subjects and managing Confidential Human Sources. During this time, he worked extensively in the Middle East, South Asia, and Africa, including significant operations in Pakistan related to al-Qaeda leadership.
At the HIG, Colton developed the Interview & Interrogation (I&I) training program that integrated scientific research into the art of interviewing—an approach recognized for revolutionizing I&I training across the U.S. Intelligence Community. He trained thousands of professionals from U.S. intelligence agencies, premier law enforcement organizations including NYPD and LAPD, and key international partners. His work helped restructure I&I training protocols for the U.S. Intelligence Community, earning him the FBI Director’s Award for Excellence in Training and the National Intelligence Meritorious Unit Citation in 2019.
Following his FBI career, Colton founded Pyxis Academy, where he applies evidence-based approaches to interviewing, interpersonal communication, deception detection, and analytic processes to gather accurate, actionable information. Most recently, Colton spent much of the past year in the Middle East working with a confidential client to improve the efficacy of their analytic process as applied to the recent turmoil in the region.
As a certified coach, Colton brings a supportive, development-focused approach to helping professionals reach their full potential. He holds a Master’s Degree in Public Policy from the University of Chicago and a Bachelor’s Degree in Political Science and Philosophy from the University of California, Davis.