Homeland Security

21 May 2003

White House Appoints New Advisor for Combating Terrorism

(Frances Townsend to serve on National Security Council staff) (290)
The White House May 21 announced the appointment of Frances Fragos
Townsend to be the Deputy Assistant to the President and Deputy
National Security Advisor for Combating Terrorism.
Ms. Townsend, whose appointment becomes effective June 1, will report
to the Assistant to the President for National Security Affairs,
Condoleezza Rice.
Following is the text of the White House announcement:
(begin text)
THE WHITE HOUSE
Office of the Press Secretary
May 21, 2003
STATEMENT BY THE PRESS SECRETARY
Frances Fragos Townsend has been appointed as Deputy Assistant to the
President and Deputy National Security Advisor for Combating
Terrorism, effective June 1, 2003.
Ms. Townsend will serve on the staff of the National Security Council
and report to the Assistant to the President for National Security
Affairs. She will also report to the Assistant to the President for
Homeland Security with respect to matters relating to global terrorism
in the United States.
Ms. Townsend comes to the White House from the U.S. Coast Guard, where
she has been serving as Assistant Commandant for Intelligence. Prior
to being named Director of Coast Guard Intelligence in August 2001,
Ms. Townsend spent 13 years at the U.S. Department of Justice in a
variety of senior positions, her last assignment as Counsel to the
Attorney General for Intelligence Policy. Ms. Townsend began her
prosecutorial career in 1985 as an Assistant District Attorney in
Brooklyn, New York.
Ms. Townsend holds a B.A. in Political Science and a B.S. in
Psychology from American University; she received her J.D. from the
University of San Diego School of Law. Ms. Townsend and her husband,
John, have two sons.
(end text)
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Department of State. Web site: http://usinfo.state.gov)