DoD Gets Closer to Nominating Cyber Policy Chief

DoD Gets Closer to Nominating Cyber Policy Chief

October 20, 2023 at 03:01PM

The RAND Corporation has submitted its research on the creation of an assistant secretary of defense for cyber policy, assigned by the Pentagon. The US Defense Department is currently reviewing the results, but it will be months before a formal nomination is made. Potential candidates include Mieke Eoyang and Michael Sulmeyer. The DoD has not yet commented on these candidates.

Key Takeaways from Meeting Notes:

– The RAND Corporation has completed its research on creating a position for an assistant secretary of defense for cyber policy.
– The US Defense Department is currently reviewing the research findings.
– It may take several months before a formal nomination is made for the position.
– RAND submitted its research at the end of September.
– The research will play a significant role in determining the new office’s organizational structure, resourcing, and workforce.
– Mieke Eoyang, the current deputy assistant secretary of defense for cyber policy, is a likely candidate for the position.
– Concerns have been raised about Eoyang’s background as a senior Democratic staffer and MSNBC commentator, potentially affecting her confirmation by the divided Senate.
– Another potential candidate mentioned is Michael Sulmeyer, the principal cyber adviser for the Army. His experience includes working on cyber policy for the National Security Council.
– The Department of Defense (DoD), which initially opposed creating the position, has not commented on these potential candidates.

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