Francis X. Taylor, MS

Francis X. Taylor is the President and CEO of FXTaylor Associates, LLC which specializes in Security, Crisis Management and Risk Management Consulting.

Mr. Taylor retired from the US Government on January 20, 2017. His last assignment was Under Secretary, Office of Intelligence and Analysis, US Department of Homeland Security. In this role, he was responsible for developing and implementing intelligence programs to support, the US Intelligence Community, the Department and other federal, state and local consumers of DHS Intelligence. He was confirmed by the Senate and assumed this role on April 14, 2014.

From March 2005 to November 2013, Mr. Taylor served as Vice President and Chief Security Officer for the General Electric Company, Fairfield CT. He was GE’s first Global CSO and was responsible for developing and managing GE’s global security operations and crisis management processes.

Prior to joining GE, Mr. Taylor had a distinguished 35-year career in government service, where he held several senior positions managing investigations, security and counterterrorism issues.

He served as the Assistant Secretary of State for Diplomatic Security and Director of the Office of Foreign Missions, with a rank of Ambassador. The Bureau of Diplomatic Security is the Department of State’s security and law enforcement arm. As Assistant Secretary, Ambassador Taylor oversaw all Department of State security programs that protect all U.S. Government employees and buildings overseas from terrorist, criminal or technical attack, and ensure the integrity of classified national security information produced and stored in these facilities. Leading more than 32,500 US, foreign and contractor personnel, he provided security for all US government employees assigned to over 250 U.S. embassies and consulates worldwide. The Ambassador also directed the law enforcement function of the Bureau, wherein Diplomatic Security Service special agents protect the Secretary of State and foreign dignitaries who visit the United States. And conduct criminal investigations of violation of US Visa and Immigration statutes. As Director of the Office of Foreign Missions, Taylor regulated the activities of foreign missions in the United States to protect the foreign policy and national security interests of the United States and safeguards the American public from abuses of privileges and immunities by diplomatic and consular officials.

Ambassador Taylor also served as the US Ambassador at Large and Coordinator for Counterterrorism for the Department of State from July 2001 to November 2002. In this role, he was responsible for the implementing US counterterrorism policy overseas and coordinating the US government response to international terrorist activities. In the aftermath of the September 11, 2001, attacks, he was a key advisor in assisting the President Bush and Secretary of State Powell in forming the international coalition against terrorism and developing aggressive international policy implementation to defeat terrorism.

During his 31 years of military service, Mr. Taylor served with distinction in numerous command and staff positions, rising to the rank of Brigadier General in September 1996. In his final active duty assignment, Brigadier General Taylor headed the Air Force Office of Special Investigations, where he was responsible for providing commanders of all Air Force activities independent professional investigative services in fraud, counterintelligence, and major criminal matters.

Mr. Taylor has received numerous awards and decorations, including the Distinguished Service Medal, the National Intelligence Distinguished Service Medal, the Defense Superior Service Medal and the Legion of Merit and the Department of State Distinguished Honor Award. The University of Notre Dame Alumni Association honored his military service with the Father William Corby Distinguished Military Service Award.

Mr. Taylor received his Bachelor’s Degree from the University of Notre Dame in 1970. He received his Air Force commission as a Distinguished Graduate of the Notre Dame Air Force ROTC program. He also has a Masters Degree in Government and International Studies from the University of Notre Dame. He was appointed an Adjunct Professor of the Practice at Notre Dame’s Keough School of Global Affairs in 2017 and continues to teach an undergraduate and graduate Global Policy Seminar at Notre Dame.

Mr. Taylor is a member of the Boards of Directors for the American Academy of Diplomacy, the Washington Institute for Foreign Affairs and the Council on International Education Exchange (CIEE).

He and his wife, Constance, have three adult children and five grandchildren.