CONTACTS

Tel: (305) 592-7917

 

Professional Background and Education

  • John J Palmatier holds a Ph.D. in Social Science from Michigan State University (1996), majoring in Developmental and Experimental psychology
  • Dr. Palmatier also finished an M.S. degree at Michigan State University (1991), majoring in Criminal Justice/Management and Evaluation, and a B.S. degree at Saginaw Valley State University majoring in Psychology and Criminal Justice (1982 – summa cum laude)
  • Dr. Palmatier’s initial polygraph training was conducted by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police at the Canadian Police College in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada (1983 – Class 83-2)

Extensive Employment History

  • Dr. Palmatier first worked as a Forensic Polygraph Examiner/Consultant beginning in 1983 as a member of the Michigan State Police Forensic Science Division
  • After retiring (2000), Dr. Palmatier moved to Beijing, China where he worked as a Professor/Applied Scientist/Researcher for different polygraph firms and the Chinese Academy of Sciences, returning to the United States in 2003, continuing his career as a private Consultant/Applied Scientist
  • Dr. Palmatier’s civilian law enforcement career resembles an action movie; beginning in December 1973, he joined the Saginaw (Michigan) City Police Department, becoming a detective in only 20-months. In February 1977, he joined the Michigan State Police and after twenty-three years of service took an early retirement to move temporarily to China.

Military Service and Investigative Roles

  • Dr. Palmatier enlisted in the Regular Army August 1, 1968 as a member of the Army Security Agency, trained in electronics and then Military Police, with the majority of his service in Asia. In May 1973, Dr. Palmatier left active duty to become a civilian police officer.
  • Dr. Palmatier joined the Michigan Army National Guard in 1976 serving until his retirement in 1997. Dr. Palmatier held many positions including Communications Officer, Company F, 425th Infantry, Army Aviator/Scout Pilot with the 238th Air Cavalry, Special Investigating Officer for two Adjutant Generals, a certified Civil Rights Investigator for the National Guard Bureau, Department of Defense, and an Assistant Chief of Staff.
  • Dr. Palmatier’s military investigative roles involved examining allegations of discrimination, waste, fraud, and abuse of authority focusing on the behavior of enlisted and commissioned members up to the Rank of Brigadier General.

Professional Activities and Lectures

  • Dr. Palmatier has presented numerous lectures at professional and scientific seminars, in the United States and International venues discussing a range of topics focusing on polygraph theory, validity, and scientific advancements related to credibility assessment.
  • Notable presentations include:
    • “The Instrumental Detection of Deception – As an Applied Science, Which Path Forward?” [Symposium – Chair], at the International Organization of Psychophysiology 22nd World Congress (Krakow, Poland)
    • “Theory and interpretation of physiological data for private and government examiners”, at the May 2025 Beijing Tong Fang ShenHuo, Training Seminar and Workshop (Guiyang, People’s Republic of China)
    • “Assessing Credibility: The Polygraph” at the 2024 Annual Australasian Society for Psychophysiology Conference (Murdoch University, Perth, Australia)
    • “Variance in Numerical Scoring: A Problem for the Polygraph Profession” at the 2023 annual American Polygraph Association seminar (Las Vegas, Nevada)
    • “The Polygraph Examination in Forensic Addiction Medicine” at the 2023 Annual Education Conference for the Federation of State Physician Health Programs (Minneapolis, Minnesota)

Expert Testimony

  • Polygraph and Related Validity Issues – Testimony (Microsoft Teams) in a (2026) hearing before the Football Association (FA), London, England
  • Polygraph and Related Validity Issues – Deposition Testimony (Zoom) (2025) taken by Nicole Reed, Assistant Prosecuting Attorney, Case No. 01-2022-CF-002951-A, a criminal matter, in the 8th Circuit Court, Alachua County, Florida
  • Polygraph and Related Validity Issues – Evidentiary Hearing (Zoom) (2024) for the defense (Attorney Betsy Warwick, Regional Counsel 3rd Region), a dissolution of parent’s rights case, No. 23-15291 D008, in the 11th Circuit Court (Family Division), Florida
  • Polygraph and Related Validity Issues – Deposition Testimony (Zoom) (2023) for the defense in a civil matter, Case No. 2:19-CV-01106, in The United States District Court for the Eastern District of Wisconsin (Milwaukee)
  • Polygraph and Related Validity Issues – Deposition Testimony (Zoom) (2023) for the defense in a civil matter, Case No. 1:20-CV-03118, in The United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois Eastern Division (Chicago)
  • Polygraph and Related Validity Issues – Testimony (WebEx) (2023) in a hearing before the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS), Geneva, Switzerland, for the Union of European Football Associations (UEFA)
  • Dr. Palmatier first testified as a polygraph expert in 1987, providing testimony for the prosecution in Shiawassee County Circuit Court – Corunna, Michigan

Professional Organizations and Affiliations

  • Dr. Palmatier is a member of several professional organizations, including the American Psychological Association, the International Organization of Psychophysiology, the American and Florida Polygraph Associations, the American Academy of Forensic Sciences (Associate Member), and the American Bar Association (Affiliated Professional)
  • Dr. Palmatier’s involvement spans over four decades, reflecting his commitment to the field of polygraphy and credibility assessment.

Selected Publications and Research Contributions

  • Dr. Palmatier has authored and co-authored several papers on credibility assessment and polygraph processes, contributing to academic discourse in the field. Many of these papers can be found by going to “Google Scholar” and typing “Palmatier, J.J.
  • Dr. Palmatier’s work includes studies published in peer-reviewed scientific journals, addressing topics such as theory, the validity of polygraph examinations, and other subject areas related to lie detection.

Honors and Awards Received

  • Dr. Palmatier received the Michigan State Police Donald S. Leonard Award for Academic Achievement in 1996.
  • During his tenure as a Forensic Polygraph Examiner, with the Michigan State Police, Dr. Palmatier received four Department Citations for Professional Excellence (1983 – 2000)
  • As a lone, Uniformed Police Officer, Dr. Palmatier received a Courageous Service Medal after witnessing 3 cartel assassins murder a person, then engaged them in a pursuit on ice and snow, shooting a tire off their vehicle; all 3 were captured and held at gunpoint until backup arrived (December 10, 1974); a Distinguished Service Medal was awarded for the arrest of 3 individuals as they attempted to rob a liquor store (August 27, 1975).

NOTE: A copy of Dr. Palmatier’s current vitae is available upon request.