National Security Threats in the 21st Century

CREATE Distinguished Speaker Series

Frances Townsend

Assistant to the President for Homeland Security and Counterterrorism (2004-2008)
National Security Issues Contributor, CNN

Frances Fragos Townsend is the Senior Vice President at MacAndrews and Forbes Holdings, Inc. Ms. Townsend was a corporate partner at the law firm of Baker Botts, LLP. Previously, she 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. Ms. Townsend is an on air contributor for CNN as a counterterrorism, national and homeland security expert. Ms. 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. Ms. Townsend is a Director and chairs the compensation committees of 3 private company Boards and serves as Director of 2 public companies. She serves on numerous government advisory and nonprofit boards. Ms. Townsend chairs the Board of the Intelligence and National Security Alliance and is a member of the Board of the Bipartisan Policy Council. She is also a member of the Council on Foreign Relations and the Trilateral Commission.


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Established in 2004, CREATE is an interdisciplinary national research center based at the University of Southern California and funded by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. The DHS Center of Excellence is focused on risk and economic analysis and comprises a team of experts from across the country, including partnerships with numerous universities and research institutions.