BIO
Tam Dao, born in Saigon, Vietnam, arrived in the US with his family as a refugee of the Vietnam War. After living in Arkansas and Chicago, Tam Dao moved to Houston, where he spent his school years. Upon graduating from UT Austin with a B.S. in psychology, Dao briefly worked at the Tricom Group before pursuing a masters’ degree at UPenn and a PhD at Florida State University, focusing on psychological assessments of Vietnamese Americans. Dr. Dao worked at the Veterans Association as a postdoc and held joint positions at the University of Houston and the Baylor School of Medicine. Drawing upon his extensive academic background in psychology, he served as a FBI special agent and specialized in counterintelligence, spearheading a taskforce that involved academics in the FBI’s counterintelligence efforts. He now works at Rice as the Assistant Vice President for Research Security and lives in Houston with his wife and three sons. This interview delves into Tam Dao’s family’s journey to the US, the struggles and joys of his childhood, his many years of experience in academia and the mentors who have impacted him along the way, and his experience with the FBI. Tam Dao also discusses his teaching philosophy and provides his opinions on the China Initiative, insights into working in the FBI as a Vietnamese American, advice for those who wish to work in the FBI, and tips on how to be a good negotiator.