William J. Birnes

Who is William J. Birnes?

William J. "Bill" Birnes is an American author, editor, publisher and literary rights agent. A graduate of New York University, he holds a Ph.D in medieval literature from the same institution and later earned a J.D. degree from Concord Law School.

As a writer of popular nonfiction, he co-authored The Riverman with detective/academic Robert D. Keppel, an account of serial killer Ted Bundy's involvement in the apprehension of Green River Killer Gary Ridgway. The book was adapted into a made-for-TV film on A&E. Following the publication of The Day After Roswell, a collaboration with Philip J. Corso, Birnes has emerged as a prominent UFOlogist.

In his previous career as a literary scholar, Birnes served as a Lily Postdoctoral Research Fellow at the University of Pennsylvania and taught literature and linguistics at Trenton State College.

He has appeared on the History Channel's television documentary series: UFO Files, Ancient Aliens, and I Know What I Saw. He starred in UFO Hunters as leader of an investigative team of fellow ufologists.