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Greater Allegheny historian provides expertise on FBI for national and international media

Douglas Charles interviewed by top outlets, consults on documentaries, and publishes historical analyses linking past and present FBI events

McKEESPORT, Pa. — Douglas Charles, professor of history at Penn State Greater Allegheny, a nationally recognized FBI historian, was interviewed 19 times in 2025 by outlets including The Washington Post, The New York Times, Los Angeles Times, Popular Mechanics, Le Monde, and Swiss National Radio. 

Charles also served twice as a fact checker for investigative stories produced by CBS’ 60 Minutes and consulted on a forthcoming CNN documentary examining the FBI’s historical and contemporary challenges. In addition to media interviews, Charles authored two comparative historical op-eds for The Conversation, a nonprofit news organization for which Penn State is a founding member. 

“My goal is to help educate readers about the place and role the FBI plays and has played in American history and life, in particular how that informs current events,” Charles said.

In History is repeating itself at the FBI as agents resist a director’s political agenda, he explored how internal opposition within the bureau reflects earlier moments in FBI history shaped by political pressure. In The parallels between Kash Patel and William J. Burns, a scandal-mongering 1920s FBI director — an FBI historian explains, he examined similarities between contemporary leadership controversies and those surrounding a former FBI director, situating current events within a broader historical context.

Charles’ research focuses on the broad history of the FBI, and he is currently writing a book tracing the bureau’s development from its origins through World War II. Learn more about his research and efforts.