CyberCom chief receives TechAmerica's top honors

The TechAmerica Foundation is recognizing Gen. Keith Alexander, commander of U.S. Cyber Command and National Security Agency director, as its Government Technology Executive of the Year, and will honor him at next month at an awards dinner.

"Gen. Alexander's distinguished career has been dedicated to protecting our nation, and it only seems fitting that he is spearheading our defense in the newest realm of security," Shawn Osborne, TechAmerica chairman, said in the release. "He has contributed a great deal to advancing the United States' national security by prioritizing protecting cyber space and it is an honor to be able to recognize his commitment to modernizing the way our government responds to security threats but more importantly, his service to our country."

Alexander, in a released statement, praised TechAmerica as "an important partner in the fight to secure American's future in cyberspace while preserving our citizens' right to privacy." He also emphasized the need for public-private partnership in cybersecurity. The statement echoed comments Alexander made earlier this month calling for cross-agency and cross-sector collaboration, with securing critical infrastructure as top priority.

"This is a team approach – not only in government, between [the Homeland Security Department, FBI, NSA and CyberCom], but between government and industry," Alexander said May 10 at an event in McLean, Va. "Industry owns 90 percent of this space; the government has a responsibility to help defend this space. We've got to come up with a framework for how government and industry work together."

TechAmerica's 2013 Technology and Government awards dinner will be held June 20 in Washington, D.C. According to the group, this award "recognizes leaders in the federal government that use technology to advance service to Americans."