White House cybersecurity coordinator still unnamed after five months

Just five months ago, President Barack Obama stood in the White House East Room, and, in a major policy speech on cybersecurity, announced he was creating the post of cybersecurity coordinator. He said this individual would enjoy direct access to him and be responsible for coordinating the government's response to cybersecurity threats.

But since that time, what has happened to that high level appointment of the White House Cybersecurity coordinator?

During the U.S. Chamber of Commerce's cybersecurity month program last Friday, Chris Painter, the White House's Acting Senior Coordinator for Cybersecurity on the National Security Staff, tried to dismiss concerns about the fact that the job was still open.

"I think this is an important position," he said, responding to a question from Federal News Radio, "as the President said, it's something he's personally interested in. That process is still underway. It's moving forward, there's not much more I can offer on that."

Painter also says one should not confuse the fact that the cybersecurity coordinator is not yet in place with whether or not there is work going on in the cybersecurity directorate.

The cybersecurity coordinator's job was also on the minds of two lawmakers who spoke to the chamber event. Senator Joe Lieberman (ID-Conn.), chairman of the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, talked about a bill that he and ranking member Susan Collins of Maine are drafting on cybersecurity.

The top plank of five that are found in the bill: a Senate-confirmed cybersecurity officer in the Executive Office of the President. This marks the first time that Lieberman has indicated publicly that he favors a Senate confirmation hearing for the cybersecurity coordinator, which the President last May suggested would not require Senate confirmation.

During the Chamber conference, that cybersecurity position was also on the mind of New York Congresswoman Yvette Clark, the chairwoman of the House Emerging Threats, Cybersecurity, and Science and Technology Subcommittee.

Of course, I'm concerned that we have yet to see that person emerge. I know the process is underway to identify the individual, the vetting process is one that is very slow and deliberate. I have personally written the President, along with a number of my colleagues. I've invited people from the private sector to express their concerns to the President as well.

Echoing concerns addressed by others familiar with the evolution of the cybersecurity coordinator's position within the White House, Clark also suggests that the job description is "unwieldy. It doesn't come with enough authority.

"Whoever takes on that position needs to have the appropriate authority in place to be effective."

Perhaps with that in mind, Rhode Island Congressman Jim Langevin, co-chairman of the House Cyber Caucus, who also helped write a key cybersecurity transition report for the President, is reportedly drafting his own bill to codify the powers of a White House cybersecurity coordinator.

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