Commerce names privacy chief

Commerce Secretary Don Evans named Elizabeth Prostic as his agency's new chief privacy officer.

Prostic replaces Cliff Angelo, who was the Commerce Department's first-ever privacy chief. Angelo, who left a year and a half ago, worked for the department's technology administration, but Prostic will report directly to Evans.

She will continue to serve as a senior policy advisor while overseeing all departmental activities related to the development of federal privacy laws, policies and practices. As CPO, Prostic's will facilitate communication between chief information officers, attorneys, policy planners and program managers, and create a network of privacy advocates throughout each bureau in the 40,000-person department.

Currently, each agency within the department monitors its own privacy programs, and each has its own mission, said Prostic, who will now coordinate and monitor them.

"This is something we've been excited about for awhile," Prostic said.

As an advisor, Prostic will continue to provide Evans with counsel on policies and regulations concerning technology, telecommunications and intellectual property.

Before working for Commerce, Prostic served as a staff member of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation for Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) She previously worked on technology, electronic commerce and space policy for McCain and Sen. Bill Frist (R-Tenn.), chairman of the Subcommittee on Science, Technology and Space.