US DoD Chief Security Officer on Cybersecurity Priorities

In a Federal Executive Forum interview, Robert Lentz, Chief Security Officer for the US Department of Defense, highlighted the departments cybersecurity priorities.

Mr. Lentz is the Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Cyber, Identity and Information Assurance (CI&IA) in the Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense, Networks and Information Integration/Chief Information Officer. Since November 2000, he has been the Chief Information Assurance Officer (CIAO) for the Department of Defense (DoD) and, in this capacity, oversees the Defense-wide IA Cyber Program, which plans, monitors, coordinates, and integrates IA Cyber activities across DoD.

Along with the need to increase network speed and hardening, Mr. Lentz also mentioned efforts to increase the number of “cyber defenders” from the current 45,000. Other priorities include:

• Insuring that information can flow from the cloud all the way to the edge
• Helping defense industrial partners increase their cybersecurity posture
• Implementing a robust identity management infrastructure; and
• Increasing cybersecurity education, training and awareness

The entire interview will be broadcast on August 13th, 2009 at 2:00pm during this week’s Federal Executive Forum on Federal News Radio. These 1 hour radio and video programs are produced and broadcast monthly in Washington, DC and feature 3-4 Top Government IT Executives discussing mission critical issues. The programs always include some of the top federal government technology leaders. This weeks forum is sponsored by:

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