Bush Names New Cyber Security Czar

goombah99 writes "The Washington Post reports that Cybersecurity "czar" Richard Clarke has confirmed widespread reports that he is leaving the White House, to be replaced by former microsoft security chief Howard Schmidt. He was also part of the Air Force's 'Computer Crime and Information Warfare division'. In related news, the National Strategy to Secure Cyberspace has received Bush's signature and will be released to the public in the next few weeks. Clark's blunt staements on the to the need to avoid erosion of privacy rights is rumored to have rubbed the administration the wrong way, prompting his exit. Anyone know how Schmitt will view the relative security of closed versus open source?" Nothing says "Security" better to me than "Former Microsoft Security Chief".

Comments

Re:And tonight...

[ichimunki]

For those of you not reading the article, it is important to note that Schmidt is already Clarke's deputy. It's not like he's being drafted straight out of Microsoft and into this top post. Besides, do we really think they'd accidentally get someone who was independent thinker in there if they could help it?

Howard Schmidt's Biography

[Reziac]

excerpted from Howard Schmidt's Biography

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Before joining Microsoft, he was a Supervisory Special Agent, Director of the Air Force Office of Special Investigations, Computer Forensic Lab and Computer Crime and Information Warfare. (HQ AFOSI/CCI). Under his direction he established the first dedicated computer forensic lab in the government. The AF specialized in conducting investigations into intrusions in government/military systems by unauthorized persons in counter intelligence and criminal investigations.

Before AFOSI he was with the FBI at the National Drug Intelligence Center (NDIC) where he headed the Computer Exploitation Team as a Computer Forensic Specialist. As one of the early pioneers in the field of computer forensics and computer evidence collection, he continues to provide training support to an international audience dealing with the new challenges around computer evidence collection and processing.

He was a City police officer from 1983-1994 with the city of Chandler Police Dept. Arizona. He served on the SWAT team, organized crime and narcotics investigations and field sergeant. While there he was detailed to the FBI academy teaching classes in the use of computers in criminal investigations for approximately 2 years.

Howard has over 31 years public service having served with the US Air Force in various roles from 1967-1983 both active duty and in the civil service. He has served in the military reserves since 1989 and currently serves as a Credentialed Special Agent, US Army Reserves, Criminal Investigation Division (CID). He has testified as an expert witness in federal and military courts in the areas of computer crime, computer forensics and Internet activity.

He holds a Bachelors Degree in Business Administration, (BSBA) and a Master of Arts in Organizational Management (MAOM). He also has a Technician class Ham Radio License, and a Single Engine Land pilots license.
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Hey folks, remember before you kneejerk -- there are more types of security than what programmers think of when they hear the term.