Francis Xavier Taylor was the United States Coordinator for Counterterrorism from 2001 to 2002 and Assistant Secretary of State for Diplomatic Security from 2002 to 2005.
Francis X. Taylor was educated at the University of Notre Dame, graduating with a B.A. in government and international studies in 1970.[1] Taylor was involved in the Reserve Officers' Training Corps during university and in upon graduation, was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in the United States Air Force.[2] He became a trainee agent in the U.S. Air Force Office of Special Investigations, and then attended the U.S. Air Force Special Investigations School in Washington, D.C.[3] From 1970 to 1972, he was a counterintelligence officer at the Middle East, Africa and South Asia Division of the Air Force Office of Special Investigations.[4] From 1972 to 1974, he attended the Air Force Institute of Technology at Notre Dame, receiving an M.A. in government and international studies in 1974.[5]
Taylor was spent 1974-76 in the Acquisition and Analysis Division of the Office of Special Investigations' Directorate of Counterintelligence.[6] In April 1976, he became chief of the Counterintelligence Acquisition and Analysis Branch in Ankara.[7] He spent 1977-83 at Bolling Air Force Base, becoming commander of Air Force Office of Special Investigations Detachment 411in September 1977; chief of Resource Career Management Division in the Office of Special Investigations' Directorate of Personnel in April 1979; and then commander of the Headquarters Squadron Section in October 1980.[8] He then spent fall and winter 1983 at the Armed Forces Staff College.[9]
In January 1984, Taylor became deputy director for operations in the Directorate of Counterintelligence and Investigative Programs in the Office of the Deputy Undersecretary of Defense for Policy.[10] From July 1987 to July 1988, he studied at the Air War College. In July 1988, he became commander of the 487th Combat Support Group at Comiso Air Station in Comiso.[11] He became commander of the Air Force Office of Special Investigations District 45 at Osan Air Base in July 1990; and then commander of the Air Force Office of Special Investigations Region 2 at Langley Air Force Base in July 1992.[12] He returned to Bolling Air Force Base in August 1994 as director of mission guidance at the Headquarters of the Air Force Office of Special Investigations.[13] In August 1995, he became director of special investigations in the Office of the Air Force Inspector General.[14] He spent July 1996 through July 1998 as commander of the Headquarters of the Air Force Office of Special Investigations at Bolling Air Force Base.[15] The Headquarters of the Air Force Office of Special Investigations moved to Andrews Air Force Base in August 1998.[16] Taylor retired from active duty on July 1, 2001.[17]
In 2001, President of the United States George W. Bush nominated Taylor to be Coordinator for Counterterrorism, and Taylor subsequently held this office from July 13, 2001 until November 15, 2002.[18] President Bush then nominated Taylor to be Assistant Secretary of State for Diplomatic Security, with Taylor holding this office from November 18, 2002 until February 19, 2005.[19] In 2006, Bush appointed Taylor to the Privacy and Civil Liberties Oversight Board.[20]
Taylor is married to Constance O. Taylor and together the couple have three children: Jacquis, Justin, and Shari.[21]
| Rank | Date of Promotion |
|---|---|
| Second Lieutenant | June 6, 1970 |
| First Lieutenant | January 15, 1972 |
| Captain | February 15, 1974 |
| Major | July 1, 1982 |
| Lieutenant Colonel | March 1, 1985 |
| Colonel | February 1, 1991 |
| Brigadier General | September 1, 1996 |
| Government offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Michael A. Sheehan |
Coordinator for Counterterrorism July 13, 2001 – November 15, 2002 |
Succeeded by Cofer Black |
| Preceded by David G. Carpenter |
Assistant Secretary of State for Diplomatic Security November 18, 2002 – February 19, 2005 |
Succeeded by Richard J. Griffin |