Thursday, January 10, 2008

Director of National Intelligence Mike McConnell will discuss "Current Issues Facing America's Intelligence" on Wednesday, from 3:30 to 4:30 p.m., at St. Mary's College of Maryland.

The talk will be in Daugherty-Palmer Commons and is free and open to the public. The event is sponsored by the college's Center for the Study of Democracy.

"Current issues facing the U.S. intelligence community are critical to absolutely understanding a wide range of policy issues that affect our democracy," Michael Cain, director of the center, said in a statement announcing McConnell's visit.

"Besides the elections," Cain said, "one of the most important questions facing the Senate and the American people this year is what kind of oversight over foreign intelligence surveillance within U.S. borders is needed."

He noted that Congress is likely to debate the Protect America Act in the coming months, with Democrats asking for greater oversight over the domestic eavesdropping program.

"The job of the DNI is to collect actionable intelligence to protect us from foreign threats," Cain said, "but Congress is worried about balancing these interests against individual liberties guaranteed in the Constitution."

McConnell was sworn in in February as the nation's second director of national intelligence. McConnell previously served as a senior vice president with the consulting firm Booz Allen Hamilton, focusing on intelligence and national security.

From 1992 to 1996, McConnell was director of the National Security Agency. During those years, he also served as a member of the Director of Central Intelligence senior leadership team.

In 1996, McConnell retired from the Navy as a vice admiral after 29 years of service, 26 of them as an intelligence officer. He has a master's degree in public administration from George Washington University and is a graduate of the National Defense University and the National Defense Intelligence College. He received a bachelor's degree in economics from Furman University.