Close this Advertisement

DHS appoints cybersecurity official

Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano announced the appointment of Philip Reitinger today as the new deputy undersecretary of DHS’ National Protection and Programs Directorate. He will work on DHS’ efforts to protect the government’s computer systems, the department said in a statement.

Reitinger comes to the department from Microsoft Corp., where he serves as a senior security strategist. The deputy undersecretary position was previously held by Scott Charbo.

About the Author

Ben Bain is a reporter for Federal Computer Week.

Reader comments

Fri, Mar 27, 2009 GlobusProject Washington, D.C.

Since DHS refuses to get onto the standardization of process and technology across the whole Federal Organization, it is time to move NPPD to Ft. Meade, MD with the NSA and DISA. And gut a large part of the whole Asst. Secretary of Cybersecurity and Communications to Ft. Meade, MD also. These are only business people who are in Govt. to serve their own corporate interests. They don't have loyalty to the American Flag but are extensions of the Greed we have seen on Wall Street. Ask David M. Walker when he was Comptroller General about this. Just when DHS moves to St. Elizabeth's Hospital, leave behind these Cyber parts and anything with a 703 number as virtual extensions of the NSA. The fact is what with 6 Databases and 4 Govt. Depts. in the CNCI, it is all going to be virtual anyway. And the agencies that do the Intelligence, Counterintelligence, SIGINT, Information Assurance, Federal Police and Intelligence are already LOB's. Let DHS manage the OLD INS, FEMA and with time, when they gain matuirty, things can be put more under their control. DHS can't even control and audit its own Finance Cards, under USCG. At best, they should oversee the Fusion Centers, but outsource these also to the private sector!!! All CIASO's should be one team, CISO's also, and CIO's also across the whole Federal Govt. This is how you standardize process and technology and decrease risk. Screw the corrupt business elements doing Cybersecurity, and that includes MicroSoft whose friends have caused $11.4 Billion of damages to just ONE database in DHS. You know, maybe DHS was not such a good idea..... you Don't need duplication of Foreign and Domestic LOB's. Why are we duplicating these things? It makes no sense what so ever that DHS duplicates what is already done well elsewhere within the Federal Govt. Centralization of power within DHS is dangerous. Listen to Admiral Dennis Blair, he is the only one that knows what is going on, for the good of the USA!!!

Mon, Mar 16, 2009 ~SouLvo!D~

Microsoft huh. i wonder what technology is going to be used. im guessing not open source technology as in UNIX/Linux.. awesome corporate schemers

Thu, Mar 12, 2009

Does it mean DHS will operate security in patch cycles being so the Cyber Chief is a Microsoft transplant.

Please post your comments here. Comments are moderated, so they may not appear immediately after submitting. We will not post comments that we consider abusive or off-topic.

Please type the letters/numbers you see above