Abraxas Corporation
205 Van Buren St., Suite 310  Herndon, VA 20170  Tel 703.821.8930 
www.abraxascorp.com
Barry L. McManus
Summary of Qualifications________________________________________________________
After completion of a distinguished career with Clandestine Service of the Central Intelligence
Agency, Mr. McManus joined Abraxas Corporation, an overseas business intelligence and
consultancy company, as Vice President of Deception Detection Services in September 2003.
Building upon an extensive career in the Washington, D.C. Metropolitan Police Department
centering on criminal and drug-related investigations, Mr. McManus transitioned to the Central
Intelligence Agency where he developed deep expertise in deception detection and analysis through
advanced academic study and sensitive professional training. In varied worldwide responsibilities
in U.S. interagency efforts to combat terrorism and protect sensitive intelligence programs and
assets from counterintelligence approaches, Mr. McManus became recognized as a top-tier
professional in the use of non-coercive interrogation, elicitation and interviewing techniques against
hardened criminals, terrorists, and hostile intelligence agents. He received the Career Intelligence
Medal in recognition of accomplishments in support of U.S. intelligence and national security
policy. In additional to Mr. McManus’s role in support of U.S. agency programs to combat
terrorism, he specialized in teaching and training assignments of both junior and senior polygraph
investigators and counterintelligence personnel, both within the U.S. Government as well as in
collegiate teaching assignments. Through innovative management strategies he developed and
implemented new programmic approaches to identifying and benchmarking the subtle, but distinct
verbal and non-verbal behaviors that are essential to detection and prosecution of white collar and
commercial fraud.
Professional Experience___________________________________________________________
Vice President, Training & Education
2003 – Present
Abraxas Corporation
A CUBIC COMPANY
 Develops client base for Abraxas’ programs tailored to match specific customer needs with
experienced and seasoned instructors utilizing scenario-based training and ethnic roleplayers in both the government and private sector utilizing innovative curriculum design and
assessment techniques.

Founded and trademarked an intellectual concept “The Human Audit” which establishes a
structured multi-phase behavioral analysis system to understand and improve the
communication process in pursuit of a more effective and efficient interview strategy which
can elucidate and identify intent in fraud and illicit activities.

Working with Fortune 500 insurance companies and major law practices to utilize deception
detection techniques in audit and “due diligence” situations.
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Lecturer, Anti-Terrorism Training
US Customs and Border Protection
2004-Present

Serves as an instructor of a customized course in behavior assessment, interviewing and
interrogation skills for U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers in counterterrorism
activities.

Senior consultant to U.S. Customs and Border Protection in the Anti-Terrorism Training on
course and curricula development and training.
Homeland Security Institute
Threat Division

2005-Present
Serves as a consultant to U.S. Department of Homeland Security in threat analysis
Adjunct Faculty
Defense Academy for Credibility Assessment (DACA)

Developed, implemented and provides instruction to intelligence community examiners in
counterintelligence interview & interrogations techniques, behavioral analysis and
credibility assessment.
Associate Professor, Administration of Justice
Northern Virginia Community College, Manassas Virginia

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2011-Present
Serves as an adjunct faculty member in the Institute for Conflict Analysis and Resolution
Undergraduate Program.
Lecturer, Executive Staff, Counterterrorism
Federal Bureau of Investigation, Washington, DC

2001-Present
Drawing upon 30-year career in criminal law enforcement and intelligence, developed
curriculum for the first Introduction to Terrorism course to be taught at the Manassas
Campus of Northern Virginia Community College.
While pursuing Doctorate in Education, serves as adjunct faculty member in the
Administration of Justice program.
Adjunct Professor, Institute for Conflict Analysis and Resolution
George Mason University

2003-Present
2002-Present
Serves as part-time instructor of customized course in behavior assessment, interviewing
and interrogation skills for FBI agents engaged in counterterrorism and counterintelligence
activities.
Senior consultant to the Federal Bureau of Investigation Executive Staff in the
Counterterrorism Division on course and curricula development and training.
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Chief Polygraph Examiner/Interrogator
1993-2003
Central Intelligence Agency, Washington, DC
 Conducted numerous politically sensitive polygraph examination and interrogations relating
to the Global War on Terrorism and the Middle East.
 Served as the Agency’s Chief Polygraph Expert in inter-agency damage assessments of
major espionage cases.
 Served as the Chief Polygraph Expert and Interrogator for DO/CTC in the fight against
Terrorism.
 Provided numerous presentations and briefings on deception detection techniques in support
of US intelligence and counter-intelligence objectives to Congressional oversight panels and
Cabinet-level officials in National Security Affairs.
 Designed curriculum in behavioral assessment, interviewing and elicitation in diverse
cultures for intelligence and federal law enforcement organizations.
 Planned, organized, and initiated interrogation strategies for developing new information on
sensitive intelligence issues.
Senior Polygraph Examiner/Interrogator
1982-1992
Central Intelligence Agency, Washington, DC
 Served as the Senior Polygraph Examiner in the European Theater with worldwide
interrogation responsibilities for asset verification.
 Designed and implemented strengthened training courses for new polygraph officers and
agent handlers.
 Served as senior debriefer of intelligence sources of diverse cultural and ethnic backgrounds
to collect and provide information in support of national-level intelligence requirements.
Security Officer
Central Intelligence Agency, Washington, DC
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
1977-1982
Responsible for conducting background investigations of applicants, employee
reinvestigations, industrial and counterintelligence and preparing assessments for senior
review.
Served on the personal protection team for the Director of Central Intelligence and the
Deputy Director.
Police Officer/Detective
1972-1977
Metropolitan Police Department, Washington, DC
 Directed and managed high-profile investigations during assignment to the Morals
Division, Inspectional Services Bureau

Tasked with investigating allegations of illegal gambling, violation of liquor laws and other
vice activities received from the general public, members of the department, and other
government agencies.

Participated in armed raids and arrests of suspects in pursuit of vice-activity investigations
and programs.
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Played leading role in investigation of federal statute crimes, including gambling,
racketeering and narcotics cases, in conjunction with the U.S. Attorney, Major Crimes Unit
that lead to federal indictments and successful prosecutions.
Education_______________________________________________________________________
 Oxford Honors Program, Oxford University, Christ Church College
 Doctoral Candidate, Higher Education, George Mason University
 M.A. Organization and Security Management, Webster University
 FBI Advanced Polygraph Forum, University of Virginia
 Applied Forensic Physiology: Detection of Deception Seminar, Department of Defense
 Scientific Content Analysis Training, The Laboratory for Scientific Interrogation
 B.A., Sociology, Loyola College
Security Clearances_______________________________________________________________
 Top Secret /SCI clearance, current polygraph and background investigation.
 Certified Polygraph Examiner and Voice Stress Analyst
 Registered Private Investigator in the Commonwealth of Virginia
Awards Received_________________________________________________________________
 Career Intelligence Medal
 Counter-Terrorism Center (CTC) Commendation for outstanding performance in support of
the War against Terrorism
 Directorate of Operation (DO) Iraqi Operations Group Unit Citation for support against the
Iraqi Target
 Numerous performance awards
Languages______________________________________________________________________
French language used in sensitive professional settings.
Professional Affiliations and Publications
American Society for Industrial Security (ASIS)
American Polygraph Association (APA)
American Association of Police Polygraphists (AAPP)
Private Investigators Security Association (PISA)
Krapohl, D. & McManus, B.L. (1999), “An objective method for manually scoring polygraph data.”
Polygraph, 28 (3), 209-221
McManus, B.L. (2007), “Interviewing the Islamic extremist.” Crime & Justice International, 23
(99), 27-28
McManus, B.L. (2008), “Liar, The Art of Detecting Deception and Eliciting Responses, Leesburg;
Global Traveler, LLC.
Napier, Michael R. (2010) “Behavior, Truth and Deception.” Contributor, Chapter 18, (259-274),
Taylor & Francis Group, LLC.
Qatar International Academy for Security Studies (QIASS). (2010), Contributor to the special report
on Risk Reduction for Countering Violent Extremism.
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