Emily Francona

In our post-9/11 world the average citizen is bombarded with sound bites about intelligence matters, including widely broadcast failures of U.S. Intelligence to provide adequate warning of terrorism, and related scandals of current and past excesses.  Intelligence is a tool for policy makers to support national security and foreign policy decisions.  For a variety of reasons the average citizen often has limited access to accurate information on intelligence matters: most intelligence, by its very nature, is highly classified and available only on a "need-to-know" basis, while media reporting is usually incomplete, sensationalized and less-than-accurate. 

Publicly available official U.S.Government information is often regarded with suspicion by many citizens interested in intelligence matters or by those obsessed with suspected intelligence "conspiracies."

The purpose of my presentations is to provide the average tax payer and concerned citizen with a basic understanding of what intelligence is and is not: an overview of the process, the players, accurate terminology, legal constraints and congressional oversight, and ongoing restructuring of the intelligence community.  I will not discuss classified matters or specific methodology, nor will I defend or attack specific actual or perceived intelligence abuses.  I believe that U.S. citizens are well served by a basic understanding of U.S. intelligence to enable them to put media reporting into proper context.  As taxpayers we should take an interest in how the annual U.S. intelligence budget, currently estimated at $40 billion, is used in supporting the U.S. national security and foreign policy process. 

As a retired intelligence professional and concerned citizen, I hope to convey useful information to fellow citizens through my presentations and with suggested sources of additional information for those interested in informing themselves further.  I also provide career information to those interested in exploring a career in intelligence. 

You are welcome to email specific questions to me directly or consider scheduling me for a presentation to your group!  My programs can be customized to fit your group's needs: from a one-hour presentation to longer workshops, seminars or academic course!