White House Names Howard Schmidt New Cybersecurity Coordinator

Posted 12/22/2009 at 1:18pm | by Bart Salisbury

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It’s been a long seven months since the White House released a cyber security review, and an even longer ten months since President Barack Obama declared cyber security a priority, so it’s about time the White House has gotten around to naming Howard A. Schmidt as the nation’s new cyber security coordinator.

Schmidt, who The Atlantic refers to as a “veteran cyber security warrior”, has wide ranging experience in cyber security, including stints as chief of cyber security for Microsoft (no snickering, if you please), and eBay. He’s also worked with local and federal government agencies, including time with the FBI, and was vice chairman of President George Bush’s Critical Infrastructure Protection Board.

While the government’s computer systems undergo scans or attacks a million times a day, the hold-up in the selection of a “cyber czar” was due to in-fighting between government agencies and the private sector. The New York Times reports that Schmidt’s appoint was slowed by “a tug of war among political, military, intelligence and business interests.” Schmidt’s extensive ties to the corporate world suggest that business interests won out.

Schmidt will report to the National Security Council and advise the National Economic Council. He will also have regular and direct access to the President on cyber security issues.

Image Credit: The White House