ACTING Director, NCSC
Mark Frownfelter
On 20 January 2025, Mark Frownfelter was named the Acting Director of the National Counterintelligence and Security Center (NCSC). In this role, he leads and supports the counterintelligence (CI) and security activities of the U.S. Government and serves as the principal CI and security advisor to the Director of National Intelligence.
Under Mr. Frownfelter’s leadership, NCSC produces the National Counterintelligence Strategy of the United States and leads national-level CI and security programs, including the National Insider Threat Task Force, CI mission management, security clearance policy and reform, supply chain risk mitigation, and security standards and compliance for overseas diplomatic facilities. NCSC also plays a critical role in conducting outreach to the private sector and other stakeholders on foreign intelligence threats and how to mitigate these threats.
Mr. Frownfelter is the current Assistant Director for the Special Security Directorate (SSD) within NCSC. Serving six years with SSD, Mr. Frownfelter has worked in support of advancing strategic priorities on behalf of the Director of National Intelligence’s role as the Security Executive Agent. These priorities include promoting security uniformity and reciprocity throughout the Executive Branch to facilitate the sharing of vital intelligence. He serves as the DNI’s lead on Trusted Workforce 2.0, an initiative designed to modernize and transform cross-government security practices to ensure a more effective, efficient, and timely vetting enterprise.
Prior to his role in NCSC, Mr. Frownfelter served as Chief of ODNI Security where he managed the personnel and physical security programs for the ODNI. Prior to coming to the ODNI, Mr. Frownfelter worked for 16 years in the Executive Office of the President (EOP) holding various positions within their office of security to include serving as the personnel security branch chief for the White House. His background includes extensive experience with security policies and is well versed with security procedures and cultures among the Intelligence Community and NT50 agencies.
Mr. Frownfelter holds an MA in Government from Johns Hopkins University and a BS in Journalism from West Virginia University.
