Biden to Nominate Jen Easterly as CISA Lead, Chris Inglis as First National Cyber Director

Jen Easterly, who served senior counterterrorism and cybersecurity role at the National Security Agency, is expected to be nominated by President Joe Biden as director of the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency while Chris Inglis, former NSA deputy director, is likely to be the national cyber director nominee, The Wall Street Journal reported Monday.

The expected nominations are reported following two suspected foreign adversary-backed cyber attacks against federal agencies and companies.

Easterly, who worked at NSA for more than three years under the Obama administration, will lead CISA if confirmed by the Senate. She will be responsible for overseeing the Department of Homeland Security’s arm focused on ensuring cybersecurity of civilian government networks.

Following confirmation, Inglis will be the first official to hold the national cyber director post, which was created in January within the Executive Office of the President as part of the Congress-approved annual defense policy spending.

The national cyber director is responsible for coordinating the federal government’s cybersecurity efforts.

The Biden administration is also expected to tap Rob Silvers as DHS undersecretary for policy. He is a partner at the international law firm Paul Hastings focusing on cybersecurity and privacy issues.

If you’re interested in the cybersecurity effort of the government then check out GovCon Wire’s Defense Cybersecurity Forum coming up on May 12. Click here to learn more.

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