[Infowarrior] - Top US Cybersecurity Official Steps Down

[Richard Forno]

(Released late on a Friday....go figure!! --rf)

Top Cybersecurity Official Steps Down
By Ellen Nakashima
Washington Post Staff Writer
Friday, August 7, 2009 6:19 PM

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/08/07/AR2009080702805_pf.html

A top operational official in charge of protecting civilian government  
computer networks has resigned, another blow to the federal effort to  
enhance cybersecurity.
Mischel Kwon, the director of the Department of Homeland Security's  
U.S. Computer Emergency Response Team, submitted her resignation  
letter this week. "Moving on is a hard step for me, but one I must  
take," she said, according to the letter, obtained by The Washington  
Post.

Kwon, who is the fourth U.S.-CERT director in five years, was  
frustrated by bureaucratic obstacles and a lack of authority to  
fulfill her mission, according to colleagues who spoke condition of  
anonymity. Her departure follows the resignation of the lead White  
House cybersecurity official, Melissa E. Hathaway, who said last week  
that she would step down.

In March, another DHS cybersecurity official, Rod Beckstrom resigned,  
citing a lack of support inside the agency and what he described as a  
power grab by the National Security Agency.

The resignations, although unrelated, point to a larger inability by  
the federal government to hire, retain and effectively utilize  
qualified personnel, experts said. Two months after President Obama  
pledged to "personally" select someone to be the White House's  
cybersecurity coordinator, the position remains unfilled.

On Friday, Phil Reitinger, director of the National Cybersecurity  
Center at DHS, said in a statement that the administration "has made  
cybersecurity a top priority."

Amit Yoran, chief executive of NetWitness, a consulting firm, and the  
U.S.-CERT's first director, said Kwon would be "sorely missed in  
government."

"It's a shame to lose her talent from public service at this critical  
time," Yoran said.

In her letter, Kwon states that she would like her last day to be  
Sept. 2. She is expected to take a position in the private sector.