MIIS Impostor
MIIS concludes instructor Bill Hillar lied about his academic record.
Saturday, November 20, 2010
The Monterey Institute of International Studies has concluded that Bill Hillar, a popular instructor who has given workshops on human trafficking since 2005, misrepresented his academic credentials.
The Weekly has learned that his military credentials also appear to be falsified.
Hillar, who has claimed to be a retired Special Forces Colonel, told a wild tale of international intrigue in his popular one-credit workshops, claiming that his own 17-year old daughter was kidnapped by traffickers in Southeast Asia, and was killed by them. He has said that he personally tracked her abductors, and claimed that the 2008 Liam Neeson film, Taken, is based on his exploits.
In fact, the United States Army Special Operations Command has no record that William G. Hillar ever took part in special operations education and training, which are standard for special forces personnel.
According to the National Archives and Records Administration, a William Gibb Hillar did serve in the United States Coast Guard Reserve from 1962 to 1970.
Furthermore, Hillar claimed to have a PhD from the University of Oregon in a health field. But, university spokesman Joe Mosley says Hillar didn't earn a doctoral degree.
A Nov. 20 statement from MIIS notes it will now require independent contract instructors like Hillar to submit to the same pre-employment background checks that faculty undergo.
MIIS will allow students who received credit for Hillar's workshop to take a one-credit course free of charge if they want the credit for Hillar's course removed from their records.
Hillar also gave workshops at the University of Oregon's substance abuse education program, offered training for firefighters and law enforcement personnel across the country, and has been a frequent speaker at events aimed at raising awareness of human trafficking.
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