The White House revealed Monday that Fran Townsend, female
homeland security adviser to US President George W. Bush, has
resigned.
Townsend, 45, is joining a continuous exodus of key White House
aides and senior Bush administration officials in the final months
of the presidency, following in the footsteps of Karl Rove, Tony
Snow, Dan Bartlett and other senior White House officials.
News reports said she is leaving in pursuit of a new career in
the private sector.
In a lengthy statement, Bush said Townsend "has always provided
wise counsel on how to best protect the American people from the
threat of terrorism," and called her "a steady leader in the effort
to prevent and disrupt attacks and to better respond to natural
disasters."
"With her extensive experience, intellect and candor, Fran has
ably guided the Homeland Security Council," he added.
"We are safer today because of her leadership. Laura and I wish
Fran, her husband John, and their two sons, James and Patrick, all
the best," Bush said.
Townsend, advisor to the president for homeland security and
counter-terrorism, was one of Bush's most valued and trusted
advisers, with a phone on her desk connecting her to No. 10 Downing
Street, the British prime minister's office.
She also brought a touch of glamour to a buttoned-down
administration, and was one of the White House's most popular
television guests.
Townsend, who had a warm relationship with Bush, had a varied
portfolio that included White House preparations for a flu
pandemic.
She was named as homeland security advisor on May 28, 2004, and
chaired the White House Homeland Security Council.
Townsend previously served as deputy assistant to the president
and Deputy National Security Advisor for Combating Terrorism.
Townsend had served as Assistant Commandant for Intelligence in
the Coast Guard.
Before that, she spent 13 years at the Department of Justice in
a variety of senior positions, with her last assignment as 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.
She is a graduate of American University, with a B.A. in
Political Science and B.S. in Psychology.
Townsend attained her law degree from the University of San
Diego School in 1984.
(Xinhua News Agency November 20, 2007)
