DHS Names New Cybersecurity Head

The DHS has named Andy Ozment to lead its cybersecurity hub.

Ozment is currently the assistant secretary of the DHS Office of Cybersecurity and Communication. John Felker will run day-to-day operations, moving over from a senior private sector cyber position at HP Enterprise Services.

The DHS cyber center — known as the National Cybersecurity and Communications Integration Center (NCCIC) — is the government’s main intake facility for private sector cyber threat information. The center analyzes the data, dishing out warnings and advice to other government agencies, as well as to private companies.
“Dr. Ozment and Mr. Felker will provide a combination of operational experience, leadership, and strategic insight needed to take the NCCIC to the next level for our cybersecurity,” Homeland Security Secretary Jeh Johnson said in a statement.

The department will also restructure NCCIC in the coming months so it is focused “on strengthening our operational capabilities for mitigating and responding to cyber incidents,” Johnson said.

Before his DHS role, Ozment was Barack Obama’s senior director for cybersecurity at the White House.

Before his HP role, Felker was the vice president of cyber programs at SCI Consulting.

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