Aaron Hotchner

Aaron "Hotch" Hotchner is the head of the BAU Team. His story revolves around balancing his family life and career. He was the only married team member through the middle of Season 3. His ex-wife, Haley has primary custody of their young son, Jack (who was born in Season 1). Prior to joining the BAU, he was a lawyer, a prosecutor and at one point, SWAT. He sometimes teaches hostage situations and negotiations. He is silent, smiles very little and shares little of his personal life. Like the others, as Season 2 came around, we learned more about Hotch and some of his family life.

As of Season 3, Hotch's professional and personal lives didn't mesh well. With Gideon having resigned from the BAU, Hotch stepped up and filled the role vacated by Gideon. He slowly became the father figure that Gideon was. For the most part, Hotch still kept his personal life out of work. He revealed Haley had filed for divorce and in a rare conversation, shared his feelings about his failed marriage with Rossi (3.17 "The Crossing"). Hotch works late regularly as he has nobody to go home to. Haley filed for a divorce from Hotch in episode 3.11 "Birthright". In episode, 3.14 "Damaged", Hotch signed the divorce papers, giving Haley an uncontested divorce. In the episode "Damaged", we saw a very different side of Hotch. Hotch's anger and frustration over his divorce put him and Reid in a dangerous situation. It also showed Hotch short tempered with everyone around him.