PEOPLE
John Poindexter, head of the Pentagon's new data mining service, the Information Awareness Office.
Master of Delete: After serving as Reagan's national security adviser during the Iran-Contra scandal, Poindexter was found guilty of five felony counts (later overturned on a technicality), including obstructing Congress by erasing more than 5,000 incriminating emails.
Data Hunter: In January, Poindexter, 66, was tapped to lead the IAO. The office, funded by Darpa, works to counter "asymmetric threats" (such as terrorist cells) with IT solutions. It's building a prototype system for collating billions of previously unconnected data points - everything from the classified files of lone-wolf agencies like the FBI, CIA, and DEA to personal Internet communications and credit records.
Background Check: The former Navy admiral has a PhD in physics and experience in IT and international security. He's loyal to Republican presidencies. Besides, who better to monitor email than a guy who faced jail for shredding digital paper trails?
START
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