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Government Security, Policy

US Cyber Czar role plagued by political wrangling

By Crystal Low | 2 June 2009

The announcement of the US Government’s first Cyber Czar has been delayed amid speculation that the newly created role has become embroiled in a political row.

Don Adams, the US-based Worldwide Chief Technology Officer, Public Sector, for tech giant Tibco, told FutureGov: “To date, two government officials have resigned over different implications and issues around the attempt to elevate cyber security to the White House.”

Adams reasoned that the objectives for this position are largely political as it involves coordinating technical people or teams in every government agency who are confident that they already know how to resolve the cyber security threat.

To President Barack Obama, cyber threat is one of the most serious economic and national security challenges the United States faces.

He outlined the Cyber Czar’s five key areas of responsibility during last Friday’s cyber security review: to come up with a comprehensive strategy to secure America’s information and communications networks; to work with state and local governments and the private sector to ensure an organized and unified response to future cyber incidents; and to strengthen the public/private partnerships that are critical to cyber security.

He also called for investment in the cutting-edge research and development necessary to improve US information infrastructure. Finally, he said there was a need to launch a national campaign to promote cyber security awareness and digital literacy from boardrooms to classrooms, and to build a digital workforce for the 21st century.

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