Balliet, Eric
Birth State
NY
Current Location
Castle Pines, CO
Author's Website
Occupation(s)
Special Agent; Homeland Security Investigations (retired)
Biography
Eric S. Balliet is a Colorado-based author and retired federal law enforcement officer with nearly 25 years of experience with the U.S. Border Patrol, U.S. Customs, ICE, and Homeland Security Investigations. His career included major drug trafficking, human smuggling, and transnational organized crime investigations, including operations connected to the capture of Joaquín “El Chapo” Guzmán. He later served in senior leadership roles and as the law enforcement advisor to two U.S. Secretaries of Homeland Security.
Eric lives in Castle Pines with his wife and three daughters and is the author of Kingpins & Coyotes. As a Colorado resident, he welcomes opportunities to engage with readers and communities throughout the Front Range and Pikes Peak region.
Awards/Honors
DHS Secretary Letter of Appreciation (2017); DHS Secretary’s Award, Outstanding Contributions (2016); Arizona Narcotics Officers Association, Unit Of The Year Award (2014)
HSI Executive Associate Director's Award, Outstanding Investigative Accomplishments (2013); Border Enforcement Security Task Force Case Award (2012)
Border Enforcement Security Task Force Award for Exceptional Accomplishment (2011); Federal Law Enforcement Officers Association Agent of the Year Award (2007)
Sons of the American Revolution Law Enforcement Commendation Medal (2006); Manatee County Florida Sheriff's Office Outstanding Contributions Award (2004)
Education/Training
• St. John Fisher University, B.A., Sociology
• Department of Justice, Civil Rights Division, Title VI Training
• Covert Operations Manager School
• New Supervisor Leadership Training
• Special Response Team Operator Course
• Personal Security Detail Training
• Medical First Responder Training
• Customs Basic Enforcement School
• Criminal Investigator Training Program
• U.S. Border Patrol Academy
• Department of Justice, Civil Rights Division, Title VI Training
• Covert Operations Manager School
• New Supervisor Leadership Training
• Special Response Team Operator Course
• Personal Security Detail Training
• Medical First Responder Training
• Customs Basic Enforcement School
• Criminal Investigator Training Program
• U.S. Border Patrol Academy
Local Authors Genres
Published Works Book Jackets
Image
Interviews
Organizations
Colorado Authors League
Board member; Public Service Alliance
Board member; Public Service Alliance
Speaker Availability
Yes
Speaker Topics
1. Inside the Hunt for El Chapo
A firsthand look at the international law enforcement effort surrounding Joaquín “El Chapo” Guzmán, including how investigators worked across agencies and borders to pursue one of the world’s most powerful drug traffickers.
2. Kingpins & Coyotes: How Criminal Networks Really Work
Drawing from nearly 25 years in federal law enforcement, Eric explains how drug trafficking and human smuggling networks operate, adapt, and survive and why taking down individual leaders rarely eliminates the larger system.
3. Beyond the Headlines: Understanding America’s Southern Border
An apolitical, firsthand discussion of what actually happens along the US/Mexico border, separating operational realities from common misconceptions and political rhetoric.
4. Drugs, Money, and People: The Business of Transnational Crime
An exploration of how criminal organizations move drugs, money, and people through interconnected networks and how those networks continually adapt to law enforcement pressure.
5. From Border Patrol Agent to Homeland Security Advisor
Eric shares lessons from a career that began on the Southwest border and ultimately led to senior leadership positions and service as the law enforcement advisor to two U.S. Secretaries of Homeland Security.
6. The Human Side of Border Security
A discussion about the difficult balance between enforcing immigration and border laws, protecting national security, and recognizing the human realities faced by migrants, communities, and law enforcement officers.
7. What 25 Years of Fighting Cartels Taught Me
Stories and lessons from major narcotics, human smuggling, corruption, and organized crime investigations and what those experiences reveal about leadership, persistence, teamwork, and the limits of enforcement.
8. Behind Kingpins & Coyotes: Turning a Law Enforcement Career into a Book
A behind-the-scenes discussion of writing Kingpins & Coyotes, including the experiences that inspired the book, the process of turning decades of investigations into narrative nonfiction, and the challenges of writing about sensitive real-world events.
A firsthand look at the international law enforcement effort surrounding Joaquín “El Chapo” Guzmán, including how investigators worked across agencies and borders to pursue one of the world’s most powerful drug traffickers.
2. Kingpins & Coyotes: How Criminal Networks Really Work
Drawing from nearly 25 years in federal law enforcement, Eric explains how drug trafficking and human smuggling networks operate, adapt, and survive and why taking down individual leaders rarely eliminates the larger system.
3. Beyond the Headlines: Understanding America’s Southern Border
An apolitical, firsthand discussion of what actually happens along the US/Mexico border, separating operational realities from common misconceptions and political rhetoric.
4. Drugs, Money, and People: The Business of Transnational Crime
An exploration of how criminal organizations move drugs, money, and people through interconnected networks and how those networks continually adapt to law enforcement pressure.
5. From Border Patrol Agent to Homeland Security Advisor
Eric shares lessons from a career that began on the Southwest border and ultimately led to senior leadership positions and service as the law enforcement advisor to two U.S. Secretaries of Homeland Security.
6. The Human Side of Border Security
A discussion about the difficult balance between enforcing immigration and border laws, protecting national security, and recognizing the human realities faced by migrants, communities, and law enforcement officers.
7. What 25 Years of Fighting Cartels Taught Me
Stories and lessons from major narcotics, human smuggling, corruption, and organized crime investigations and what those experiences reveal about leadership, persistence, teamwork, and the limits of enforcement.
8. Behind Kingpins & Coyotes: Turning a Law Enforcement Career into a Book
A behind-the-scenes discussion of writing Kingpins & Coyotes, including the experiences that inspired the book, the process of turning decades of investigations into narrative nonfiction, and the challenges of writing about sensitive real-world events.