DHS Names More Cyber Players

Homeland Security Department Secretary Janet Napolitano rounded out her cybersecurity team today, announcing the appointment of two key posts that will report to Phillip Reitinger, the cyber chief at the department.

In addition to his already announced role as deputy under secretary for the National Protection and Programs Directorate, Reitinger will serve as director of the National Cybersecurity Center, helping to secure federal networks and systems by collecting, analyzing, integrating and sharing information among interagency partners, according to an announcement released by DHS on June 1. Rod Beckstrom stepped down as director of the NCSC in March, expressing in his resignation letter his frustration over the increasing influence of the National Security Agency in cybersecurity efforts.

A new addition to the DHS cyber team is Bruce McConnell, who will serve as counselor to Reitinger on strategic and policy matters related to the various priorities of the NPPD, including cybersecurity, infrastructure protection, intergovernmental programs, risk management and analysis, and biometric technologies.

Beyond his occasional blogs for Nextgov, McConnell most recently served on the Obama-Biden Presidential Transition Team, focusing on information policy and technology issues. He previously ran his own consulting firms, was director of the International Y2K Cooperation Center, and from 1993 to 1999, served as chief of information policy and technology in the Office of Management and Budget.

Greg Schaffer will serve as assistant secretary for cybersecurity and communications, a position held by Gregory Garcia in the Bush administration. He will lead coordinated efforts with the public and private sectors and international partners to prepare for, prevent, and respond to incidents that could slow or cripple the nation's strategic cyber and communications infrastructure.

Schaffer previously held positions as senior vice president and chief risk officer for Alltel Communications, director of PricewaterhouseCoopers Cybercrime Prevention and Response Practice, and served as a computer crime prosecutor in the Computer Crime and Intellectual Property Section of the U.S. Department of Justice.