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On April 12, 2021, President Joe Biden announced that he would nominate former NSA deputy director Chris Inglis to be the first National Cyber Director and former Army intelligence officer Jen Easterly to lead the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA). The Senate had to confirm both nominees. Inglis was chosen for a government-wide cybersecurity coordination role; Easterly was chosen to run the agency that helps defend federal networks and critical infrastructure.
Who are Chris Inglis and Jen Easterly?
Chris Inglis
Inglis had nearly three decades of experience at the National Security Agency, including service as its deputy director. Biden selected him to coordinate cybersecurity efforts across the federal government and help ensure that cybersecurity informed national-security decisions. CyberScoop reported on the nominations and the nominees’ backgrounds.
Jen Easterly
Easterly was a former Army intelligence officer with experience in both offensive and defensive cyber operations. She helped establish U.S. Cyber Command in 2009–2010, previously worked at the NSA, and had spent four years leading Morgan Stanley’s cybersecurity fusion center before her nomination. Biden selected her to lead CISA.
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| Nominee | Position announced April 12, 2021 | Institution | Main focus |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chris Inglis | National Cyber Director | Executive Office of the President | Advise the President and coordinate cybersecurity strategy and policy across the government |
| Jen Easterly | Director of CISA | Department of Homeland Security | Lead the agency responsible for operational assistance to defend federal networks and critical infrastructure |
These were nominations, not appointments: each required Senate confirmation. Inglis was confirmed on June 17, 2021, becoming the first National Cyber Director, according to the White House’s FY2021 FISMA report.
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What does the National Cyber Director do?
The National Cyber Director (NCD) is a government-wide policy and coordination role in the Executive Office of the President, rather than the head of an operational cybersecurity agency. The position was created by the William M. (Mac) Thornberry National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2021. The White House’s FY2021 FISMA report describes the Office of the National Cyber Director (ONCD) as responsible for advising the President on cybersecurity and related emerging-technology issues and coordinating implementation of national cybersecurity strategy and policy.
In practical terms, the NCD’s remit is to align work across federal departments and agencies, including coordinating offensive and defensive cyber activity. The role is strategic and cross-government; it does not replace the operational responsibilities of agencies such as CISA.
How is the National Cyber Director different from CISA?
| Dimension | National Cyber Director | CISA director |
|---|---|---|
| Scope | Government-wide strategy, coordination and advice | Agency leadership and defense of federal networks and critical infrastructure |
| Institutional location | Executive Office of the President, through ONCD | Department of Homeland Security |
| Operating mode | Synchronize policy and advise the President | Operational protection, incident response and assistance |
The distinction is about function, not importance: the NCD works across the federal government to coordinate policy, while CISA provides operational leadership and support in its areas of responsibility.
Why were the nominations made after SolarWinds?
The announcement came amid high-profile cyber operations associated with Russia and China, including the SolarWinds campaign. CyberScoop reported that the campaign exploited vendor software and reached nine federal agencies. CyberScoop’s report on the announcement placed the nominations in that broader cybersecurity context.
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The timing underscored the need for both cross-government coordination and operational defense. The new National Cyber Director role was designed to coordinate strategy and policy, while CISA’s remit includes helping protect federal networks and critical infrastructure.
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