Frances Fragos Townsend

olleagues characterize Frances Townsend as both "charming" and "disarmingly frank." Responsible for tracking global terrorism for the National Security Council, Townsend has a knack for bridging communication gaps gracefully. As a senior Justice Department official under Attorney General Janet Reno, she was one of the few who could mediate the sometimes-tense discussions between Reno and then-FBI Director Louis Freeh, Townsend's longtime mentor.

At the NSC, Townsend has earned the trust of President Bush, with whom she meets daily. She chairs the Counterterrorism Security Group, which meets weekly to ensure that all the departments with a role in counter-terrorism are on the same track. During the Christmastime Code Orange alert, the security group convened twice-daily meetings, often at the Cabinet level, to discuss the latest threat information and response. On the job since June 2003, Townsend has had such high-profile assignments as heading counter-terrorism for the NSC's new Iraq Stabilization Group, and leading a delegation to Saudi Arabia to root out terrorist financing. When Townsend took the NSC job, some Republicans voiced concern that she was a Democrat and potential political infiltrator. She laughs it off: "I've been a registered Republican voter since the age of 18."

Townsend sees her NSC post as a chance "to try and better the system that I've been a part of for my whole career." A native of Wantagh, N.Y., Townsend, 42, earned her bachelor's degree from American University and went on to the University of San Diego School of Law. A former assistant district attorney in New York City, Townsend spent 13 years at the Justice Department. There, she served in a number of posts, including counsel for intelligence policy. She then shipped off to the Coast Guard, where she became assistant commandant for intelligence and was charged with making the Coast Guard an official member of the intelligence community. Former colleagues were impressed with her ability to deliver quickly on that order. "She's a leader," said one.