EPA looks to VA for new CISO

Sean Kelley, a deputy CIO at the Department of Veterans Affairs, will lead IT security at the Environmental Protection Agency.

Sean Kelley, president of GITECH

The Environmental Protection Agency is getting a new chief information security officer. Sean Kelley, currently the Department of Veterans Affairs' deputy CIO for account management of benefits and veteran experience, will join EPA as its CISO on Jan. 9.

The move returns Kelley to his home ground -- IT security. He was involved in developing the enterprise cybersecurity strategy at VA as a key adviser to agency CIO LaVerne Council, and before that worked in cybersecurity in several posts at the Navy's Bureau of Medicine and Surgery organization. Kelley also taught IT security at the SANS Institute and had a cybersecurity practice as an independent consultant.

Kelley also was recently installed as president of the Government Information Technology Council.

Ron Thompson, VA's principal deputy CIO is also leaving the agency for a post at EPA, according to an internal email.