Some key players

Tom Ridge

Title: Director of the Office of Homeland Security

Role: Coordinating counter.terrorism initiatives across 46 federal agencies, state and local agencies, and the private sector.

Richard Clarke

Title: Cyberspace security adviser

Role: Coordinating protection of federal information systems and reacting to cyberattacks from hackers, criminals, terrorists and hostile nation-states.

John Marburger

Title: Director of the Office of Science and Technology Policy (nominee)

Role: Coordinating federal research and development to ensure limited duplication of effort, and setting governmentwide policy for the use of science and technology.

Sen. Ron Wyden (D-Ore.)

Title: Chairman of the Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee's Subcommittee on Science, Technology and Space

Role: In the Senate, oversees federal technology research and development, federal use of technology, and coordination with the technology industry.

Rep. Sherwood Boehlert (R-N.Y.)

Title: Chairman of the House Science Committee

Role: In the House, oversees federal technology research and development, federal use of technology, and coordination with the IT industry.

Events Last Week

* Bush establishes Office of Homeland Security, headed by former Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Ridge.

* Richard Clarke tapped as special adviser to the president for cyberspace security.

* Clarke proposes GovNet, a secure intranet for critical government services, and accelerates work on a wireless network for emergency communications.

* Transportation Department inspector general calls for wider use of technology for detecting explosives and training personnel.

* Immigration and Naturalization Service commissioner says agency needs more money for technology to track immigrants. Oracle Corp. offers free software licenses and development services.