Frances Fragos Townsend served as assistant to President George W. Bush for Homeland Security and Counterterrorism and chaired the Homeland Security Council from May 2004 until January 2008. She previously served as deputy assistant to the President and deputy national security advisor for Combating Terrorism from May 2003 to May 2004. Most recently, Townsend provided...
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Frances Fragos Townsend served as assistant to President George W. Bush for Homeland Security and Counterterrorism and chaired the Homeland Security Council from May 2004 until January 2008. She previously served as deputy assistant to the President and deputy national security advisor for Combating Terrorism from May 2003 to May 2004. Most recently, Townsend provided consulting services and advice to corporate entities on Global Strategic Engagement and Risk as well as Crisis and Contingency planning. Townsend is a contributor for CNN and has regularly appeared on network and cable television as a counterterrorism, national and homeland security expert. She has received numerous awards for her public service accomplishments.
Prior to serving the President, Townsend was the first assistant commandant for Intelligence for the U. S. Coast Guard. Before that, Townsend spent 13 years at the U. S. Department of Justice under the administrations of President George H. W. Bush, President Bill Clinton and President George W. Bush. She served in a variety of senior positions including counsel to the Attorney General for Intelligence Policy. Townsend began her prosecutorial career in 1985, serving as an assistant district attorney in Brooklyn, New York.
In 1988, she joined the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York where she focused on international organized crime and white-collar crime cases. In 1991, she worked in the Office of the Attorney General to assist in establishing the newly created Office of International Programs, the predecessor to the Executive Office for National Security. In December 1993, she joined the Criminal Division where she served as chief of staff to the Assistant Attorney General and played a critical part in establishing the Division’s international training and rule of law programs.
From November of 1995 to November of 1997, Townsend was director of the Office of International Affairs in the Criminal Division, which serves as the U. S. Central Authority for extradition and mutual legal assistance, and works with the Department of State in the negotiation of international law enforcement treaties. In November of 1997, Townsend was appointed as acting deputy assistant Attorney General, Criminal Division, where she oversaw international law enforcement and training matters in the Criminal Division, and acted as an advisor to the Attorney General and Deputy Attorney General on international law enforcement policy.
In March of 1998, Townsend was appointed counsel for Intelligence Policy, managing matters related to national security policy and operations for the Department of Justice. In this capacity she headed the office of Intelligence Policy and Review, an office that provides legal advice and recommendations to the Attorney General and the Department of Justice regarding national security matters, reviews executive orders, directives and procedures relating to the intelligence community and approves certain intelligence-gathering activities, especially those matters related to the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act.
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Speaker Programs
Strategic Risk and Crisis Management, When Bad News Becomes Good News
Any commercial or economic crisis creates business opportunity, opportunity that must be met with leadership, courage and discipline. But before a crisis happens, what must leaders do to prepare to meet adversity head on? A ...more
Any commercial or economic crisis creates business opportunity, opportunity that must be met with leadership, courage and discipline. But before a crisis happens, what must leaders do to prepare to meet adversity head on? A global leader on strategic risk and crisis management, Frances Townsend contends that there is great opportunity in crisis but only when leaders are prepared to confidently address a situation rather than shrink from it. In today's world, while traditional business risk remains important (insurable risk, reputation risk, etc.), Townsend shows audiences that we now must expand our view of risk and how we mitigate business exposure. Business leaders must now demand that their organizations aggressively seek out vulnerabilities and problems so that they can be addressed, looking around corners, using a very deliberate and disciplined process. Townsend uses her years of crisis planning, mitigation and management to explain a specific, measurable process that corporations can implement immediately. ...less
Leading Change from Within an Organization
Any commercial or economic crisis creates business opportunity. The real question is how to best prepare to take advantage of the opportunity. Frances Townsend's view - and her experience proves it - is that great ...more
Any commercial or economic crisis creates business opportunity. The real question is how to best prepare to take advantage of the opportunity. Frances Townsend's view - and her experience proves it - is that great leaders do not fear adversity, but are invigorated by their greatest challenges. Just as the pitcher who steps on the diamond with bases loaded and only one out, successful leaders cannot dread the critical moment, but instead are excited about the opportunity it presents. She knows how a crisis can foster positive change, by creating a new culture from within and building momentum to propel the organization forward. As the president's former homeland security and counter-terrorism advisor, Townsend shares her first-hand experience of testing in a true crisis and turns her recount into an opportunity to learn about ourselves and others, about egos and the willingness to listen, and about team trust and loyalty. ...less
Public Service and Volunteerism
Frances Townsend made a conscious decision to devote 23 years to a career in public service, and is grateful for every single day she served. While not everyone will choose a similar path, she challenges ...more
Frances Townsend made a conscious decision to devote 23 years to a career in public service, and is grateful for every single day she served. While not everyone will choose a similar path, she challenges us to consider ways we can contribute to others through public service. Reflecting on her own diverse career spanning law enforcement, intelligence, homeland security and more, Townsend inspires audiences to truly make a difference by getting involved in public service. Many are dissatisfied with the way government works, but only the bold will step forward to cultivate change. Criticism without action is whining and that never changed anything. No more excuses - it is time to get involved! ...less
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