Federal 100: Jake Olcott

Jake Olcott
Counsel
Senate Commerce Committee

Jake Olcott was a key player behind the scenes as lawmakers got focused on cybersecurity.

He worked with experts in government and industry to develop ideas that helped shape a bill from Olcott's boss, Sen. Jay Rockefeller (D-W.Va.), and Sen. Olympia Snowe (R-Maine) intended to serve as a companion to a bill Sens. Joseph Lieberman (I-Conn) and Susan Collins (R-Maine) had already introduced.

Olcott's diplomatic work with the private sector helped resolve a controversy that had developed over a provision in the Lieberman-Collins bill that would have given the president the power to order the shutdown of portions of the Internet in some emergency circumstances. Ultimately, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) chose to develop a consensus bill rather than trying to pass the Lieberman-Collins legislation.

Read more about the 2011 Federal 100 award winners.