Thomas Leo "Tom" Clancy Jr. was an American novelist, celebrated for his technically detailed espionage and military-science storylines set during and after the Cold War. Seventeen of his novels have become bestsellers, with more than 100 million copies sold worldwide.

Originally an insurance agent, Clancy began his literary journey in 1984 with the publication of his first military thriller, The Hunt for Red October. This book was sold for $5,000 and published by the Naval Institute Press. It received significant attention when President Ronald Reagan praised it as "the best yarn."

His novels such as The Hunt for Red October, Patriot Games, Clear and Present Danger, and The Sum of All Fears have been adapted into successful films. In addition to his novels, Clancy's name graces numerous nonfiction books on military subjects, video games, and movie scripts written by ghostwriters.

Clancy's works have also inspired a range of video games including the Rainbow Six, Ghost Recon, Splinter Cell, and The Division series. Following his death in 2013, his famous Jack Ryan series has been continued through a series of authors by his family estate.

Beyond his writing career, Clancy was a part-owner and Vice Chairman of Community Activities and Public Affairs of the Baltimore Orioles, a Major League Baseball team.