Oh Brother. That Takes the Cake.

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DHS Cyber Security Chief Abruptly Resigns

Thanks to Rodney Peterson of Educause for pointing this out:

U.S. cybersecurity chief abruptly resigns, cites frustration

By TED BRIDIS, AP Technology Writer

WASHINGTON (AP) The government's cybersecurity chief has abruptly resigned after one year with the Department of Homeland Security, confiding to industry colleagues his frustration over what he considers a lack of attention paid to computer security issues within the agency.

Amit Yoran, a former software executive from Symantec Corp., informed the White House about his plans to quit as director of the National Cyber Security Division and made his resignation effective at the end of Thursday, effectively giving a single's day notice of his intentions to leave.

Yoran said Friday he ''felt the timing was right to pursue other

opportunities.'' It was unclear immediately who might succeed him even temporarily. Yoran's deputy is Donald ''Andy'' Purdy, a former senior adviser to the White House on cybersecurity issues.

Yoran has privately described frustrations in recent months to colleagues in the technology industry, according to lobbyists who recounted these conversations on condition they not be identified because the talks were personal.

We've been harping on DHS and the Administration for not taking cyber security – especially cyber security R&D – seriously enough, but this still comes as a surprise.

(((Why? WHY is it a surprise? Have you been

asleep for four years? Come on!)))

More details as we figure them out.

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Peter Harsha

Director of Government Affairs

Computing Research Association

1100 17th St, NW Suite 507

Washington, DC 20036-4632

fax: 202-667-1066

phone: 202-234-2111 ext 106

http://www.cra.org

CRA's Computing Research Policy Blog!:

http://www.cra.org/govaffairs/blog