(RepublicanPress.org) – Harry Coker Jr. is a C5 Capital operating partner, former Navy officer, CIA official, and a National Security Agency executive director. He has extensive experience in national security, a master’s degree in computer science, and deep cybersecurity knowledge. Recently, he added one other position to his resume within the Biden administration.
On December 12, the Office of the National Cyber Director (ONCD) welcomed Coker as the agency’s next head. According to a White House announcement, the Senate confirmed him to the position by a vote of 59 to 40. Acting National Cyber Director Drenan Dudley said the ONCD was “delighted” to welcome Coker to the team. The acting director said Coker’s 40 years of experience “will further ONCD’s success,” and the office looks “forward to his leadership.”
Harry Coker was confirmed as director of the @ONCD by the U.S. Senate on Tuesday as businesses prepare for a new @SECGov breach reporting rule that goes into effect Dec. 18. #cybersecurity #infosec #ITsecurity https://t.co/GUoSXVUMKj
— SC Media (@SCMagazine) December 15, 2023
The announcement explained that the ONCD had only been in existence since 2021. The office was created by Congress as part of President Joe Biden’s National Cybersecurity Strategy plan. Coker will be the second person to hold the director position. His job, in part, will be to advise the president and his national security team on cybersecurity policy and strategy — an important position in today’s online world.
During Coker’s confirmation hearing in early November, the new director told Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee members that he planned to continue the work of his predecessors in the OCND. Coker said his “north star” would be establishing and continuing essential “partnerships and collaboration between the public and private sectors.” He will be replacing Interim National Cyber Director Kemba Walden, who replaced former Director Chris Inglis after he stepped down earlier in the year.
In addition to his years of service and credentials from the Naval Postgraduate School and US Naval Academy, Coker holds a Juris Doctor degree from Georgetown University Law Center. He also served the United States in the Navy for over two decades.
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