Thomas Drake

Thomas Drake is a former senior executive at the National Security Agency, where he blew the whistle on massive multibillion-dollar fraud, the widespread violations of the rights of citizens through secret mass surveillance programs after 9/11, critical 9/11 intelligence failures and coverups hiding behind veil of secrecy and national security. In 2010, he was charged by the Obama administration as their signature case under the draconian Espionage Act for his oath to support and defend the U.S. Constitution. In 2011, the government’s case against him collapsed and he went free in a plea deal. He is featured in the “Silenced” documentary as well as the U.S. PBS Frontline special “The United States of Secrets.” In 2017, Drake received his PhD in public policy and administration. His dissertation “Eyewitness to History in Devolution of Democracy and Constitutional Rights Following 9/11” focused on the centrality of the post-9/11 security-driven world and the price paid by those who speak truth about the abuse of power and the erosion of our rights and freedoms. He speaks widely on privacy and security issues and the critical need to protect our inalienable human rights. Drake has a varied career background that includes teaching, information technology, systems and software engineering, code analysis and military and intelligence experience. He is now dedicated to the defense of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.