Donald Krapohl

Mr. Krapohl polygraph career started in the private sector in 1979, conducting testing for attorneys, police departments and commercial firms in St. Louis, Missouri. In 1985 he was recruited by the US government to perform polygraph testing for intelligence and security purposes, and Mr. Krapohl conducted many significant and highly sensitive cases during that time. Ultimately he became involved in government research on the polygraph, which led to his assignment in 1997 to the US government's...See more

Mr. Krapohl polygraph career started in the private sector in 1979, conducting testing for attorneys, police departments and commercial firms in St. Louis, Missouri. In 1985 he was recruited by the US government to perform polygraph testing for intelligence and security purposes, and Mr. Krapohl conducted many significant and highly sensitive cases during that time. Ultimately he became involved in government research on the polygraph, which led to his assignment in 1997 to the US government's polygraph education and research organization at Ft. Jackson, SC. Working among leading scientists in this area afforded Mr. Krapohl new opportunities to investigate the potential, and potential limits, of the polygraph and to explore other technologies that might augment or replace it. His primary focus as a researcher was the development of best practices, and the use of empirically based methodologies. His work led to, among other advances, a polygraph algorithm now used on most computer polygraphs. His expansive terminology reference for polygraphy is the standard in the field. He was a member of the team that validated the Preliminary Credibility Assessment Screening System, a technology now a major component of force protection for the US military. Mr. Krapohl helped craft the charge given the National Research Council during its survey of the literature on the validity of polygraph screening in 2003. Mr. Krapohl made technical presentations on the government's use of credibility assessment technologies to workshops hosted by the National Academy of Sciences and the National Science Foundation. Following six very productive years in the Research Branch Mr. Krapohl was designated the facility's Deputy Director. He retired from government service in 2015. In his career he has authored more than 100 published research papers, general interest pieces, technical articles and book chapters on credibility assessment and related areas. Outside of his government service, Mr. Krapohl was the Editor-in-Chief for the publications of the American Polygraph Association (APA), 1997-2003 and 2007-2014. He served as APA President in 2006. He has been the recipient of numerous awards for his research and presentations. See less