Coleen Rowley spent over two decades as a FBI Special Agent. In 1990 she was transferred to the FBI Minneapolis field office where she became the Chief Devision Counsel, teaching constitutional law as well as overseeing the Freedom of Information program among others. After the 9/11 attacks, she wrote a paper detailing how FBI HQ in Washington DC mishandled and failed to take action on information provided to them ahead of the attacks. Failures that she believed, left the United States vulnerable to the September 11th attacks. She testified to Congress and committees multiple times. 

She was one of three women honored as Time Magazine Person of the Year along with two other whistleblowers.
Coleen retired from the FBI after 24 years service. 
Since that time she remains a vocal activist for progress, accountability and transparency, as well as for whistleblower protections and freedom of speech..