US CISA appointed Kiersten Todt as new chief of staff

The U.S. Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) has appointed Kiersten Todt as its new chief of staff.

The U.S. Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) announced to have appointed Kiersten Todt as its new chief of staff, she will replace Acting Chief of Staff Kate Nichols.

“The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) announced today Kiersten E. Todt as the Agency’s new Chief of Staff. In this role, Todt will spearhead the planning, allocation of resources, and development of long-range objectives in support of CISA’s goals and provide strategic vision and direction to enable and empower CISA’s workforce.” reads CISA’s announcement.

Todt has been directing the Cyber Readiness Institute (CRI), a non-profit focused on developing cybersecurity tools for small businesses. Between 2012 and 2016 she served as president and managing partner at cyber consulting firm Liberty Group Ventures. She was also a member of the team supporting the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) in the development of the Voluntary Cybersecurity Framework called for in President Obama’s 2013 Executive Order 13636 on cybersecurity.

In 2016, she was chosen by President Obama to lead an independent commission on enhancing national cybersecurity.

“I am thrilled to welcome Kiersten as our new Chief of Staff and my close partner in continuing the transformation of CISA as the nation’s cyber and infrastructure defense agency. Her experiences in the private sector and in government make her extraordinarily well-qualified for this critical role. I am particularly excited to be able to draw upon Kiersten’s leadership ability and her deep partnerships with industry, to include the small business community—a key element of our nation’s economy,” stated CISA Director Jen Easterly.

“I am honored to serve and to join Jen and the tremendous team at CISA to help protect our nation’s critical infrastructure. I look forward to shaping CISA’s long-term planning and working with industry, federal agencies, and state, local, tribal, and territorial government partners to chart the path forward for a more secure and resilient nation,” stated Todt.

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Pierluigi Paganini

(SecurityAffairs – hacking, Todt)