Thomas A. Drake
Thomas A. Drake | |
|---|---|
| Born | Thomas Andrews Drake April 22, 1957 Louisiana, United States |
| Occupation | Former senior executive of the National Security Agency |
| Nationality | American |
| Notable awards | Military: Meritorious Service Medal Air Medal Air Force Commendation Medal Civilian: Ridenhour prize Sam Adams Award Hugh M. Hefner First Amendment Award |
Thomas Andrews Drake (born 1957) is a former senior executive of the National Security Agency (NSA), a decorated United States Air Force and United States Navy veteran, and a whistleblower. In 2010, the government alleged that Drake mishandled documents, one of the few such Espionage Act cases in U.S. history. Drake's defenders claim that he was instead being persecuted for challenging the Trailblazer Project.
He is the 2011 recipient of the Ridenhour Prize for Truth-Telling. Drake and his attorney, Jesselyn Radack, are the co-recipients of both the Sam Adams Associates for Integrity in Intelligence (SAAII) award and the Hugh M. Hefner First Amendment Award.
On June 9, 2011, all 10 original charges against him were dropped. Drake rejected several deals because he refused to "plea bargain with the truth". He eventually pleaded to one misdemeanor count for exceeding authorized use of a computer. Radack called it an act of civil disobedience.