Former Micorosft executive named director of NCC

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Sounds like a good move.

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) appointed former Microsoft executive Philip Reitinger as director of the National Cybersecurity Center.

In an announcement earlier this week, DHS Secretary Janet Napolitano filled three positions that support cybersecurity operations at DHS. Also appointed were Greg Schaffer as assistant secretary for cybersecurity and communications and Bruce McConnell as counselor tothe National Protection and Programs Directorate (NPPD) Deputy Under Secretary.

Reitinger fills the NCSC post left vacant with the departure of Rod Beckstrom. Beckstrom resigned in March citing his frustration with cybersecurity planning between federal agencies and the lack of funding
for cybersecurity issues. Reitinger will also continue to serve as Deputy Under Secretary for the NPPD, a post he was appointed to in March.

So what was Reitinger’s past role and what will it be going forward?

Reitinger was a senior security strategist with Microsoft’s Trustworthy Computing Security Team before taking the position at the NPPD in March. He helped lead the shift of the software giant’s focus on product security. Prior to Microsoft, he served as executive director of the Department of Defense‘s (DoD) Cyber Crime Center in Linthicum, Maryland, where he headed the DoD’s computer forensics
investigations.

Napolitano said Reitinger’s role will be to collect, analyze and share cybersecurity information between federal agencies. He will also coordinate situational awareness and reporting for federal
cybersecurity organizations, she said.

As NCSC Director, Reitinger will be charged with helping secure federal networks and systems by collecting, analyzing, integrating and sharing information among interagency partners.
Reitinger will coordinate situational awareness and reporting for federal cybersecurity organizations and personnel resources in order to gain a clear understanding of risks and threats.(Source: DHS fills National CyberSecurity Center post – Search Security)

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