The authoritative guide to ensuring science and technology make life on Earth better, not worse.
Townsend served as the assistant to President George W. Bush for homeland security and counterterrorism from 2004 to 2008. She previously served as deputy assistant to the president and deputy national security advisor for combating terrorism. Townsend came to the White House from the U.S. Coast Guard, where she had served as assistant commandant for intelligence. Townsend co-chaired the Stimson Center’s Task Force on Leveraging the Scientific and Technological Capabilities of the NNSA National Laboratories for 21st Century National Security.