Biden Administration Announces Key Cybersecurity Appointments

President Biden has designated two seasoned veterans from the National Security Agency (NSA) to assume prominent cybersecurity roles within the government. This includes the establishment of the nation’s first National Cyber Director position.

Recent Cyberattacks Prompt Staffing Changes

These appointments were unveiled on Monday, following the identification of two significant cyberattacks originating from foreign entities earlier in the year. These incidents included a Russian espionage operation that compromised the systems of U.S. technology firm SolarWinds, impacting at least nine federal agencies, and widespread exploitation of Microsoft Exchange servers attributed to China-backed hackers.

New Leadership at CISA

Jen Easterly, previously an NSA official during the Obama administration and instrumental in the creation of U.S. Cyber Command, has been nominated to lead CISA. CISA, the cybersecurity advisory arm of the Department of Homeland Security, has operated without a permanent director for half a year.

The vacancy arose after the previous director, Chris Krebs, appointed by President Trump in 2018, was dismissed for challenging the former president’s unsubstantiated claims regarding election hacking.

National Cyber Director Appointed

Furthermore, President Biden has selected former NSA deputy director John “Chris” Inglis to serve as the inaugural National Cyber Director. This new position, authorized by Congress late last year, will be based within the White House.

The National Cyber Director will be responsible for overseeing the cybersecurity budgets and defense strategies of civilian government agencies.

Collaboration with Existing Cybersecurity Officials

Inglis is anticipated to collaborate closely with Anne Neuberger, who was appointed in January as the deputy national security adviser for cybersecurity, serving on the National Security Council. Neuberger, a former NSA executive and the agency’s initial director of cybersecurity, led the government’s response to both the SolarWinds attack and the Microsoft Exchange server breaches.

Additional Homeland Security Role

Rob Silvers, who previously served as an assistant secretary for cybersecurity policy during the Obama administration, has been nominated as undersecretary for strategy, policy, and plans at Homeland Security. Silvers was also considered for the leadership position at CISA.

Confirmation Process and Initial Reactions

The nominations of Easterly and Silvers are subject to confirmation by the Senate. The appointments were initially reported by The Washington Post.

Chris Krebs, the former CISA director, lauded the selections as “brilliant picks.” Dmitri Alperovitch, a former executive at CrowdStrike and chair of Silverado Policy Accelerator, characterized the appointments as the “cyber equivalent of the dream team.”

Alperovitch stated via Twitter that the administration had chosen exceptionally capable and experienced individuals to manage cyber operations, policy, and strategy alongside Anne Neuberger.

NSA Cybersecurity Leadership Change

Rob Joyce, a former White House cybersecurity coordinator, will succeed Neuberger. He recently returned from a posting at the U.S. Embassy in London to assume the role of NSA’s new cybersecurity director.

Funding Request and Staffing Concerns

Last week, the White House requested an additional $110 million in funding from Congress for the upcoming year. This funding is intended to bolster Homeland Security’s defenses and facilitate the recruitment of additional cybersecurity professionals.

CISA experienced significant staff turnover last year, with several senior officials either dismissed by the Trump administration or departing for opportunities in the private sector.