On December 12, the US Senate approved Mr. Harry Coker Jr. as National Cyber Director, responsible for advising President Joe Biden on cybersecurity policy and strategy, replacing Mr. Chris Inglis who resigned in February 2023.
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| Mr. Harry Coker Jr. served as Director of the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) and Director of the National Security Agency - NSA. (Source: CyberScoop) |
Mr. Coker's appointment comes as the United States faces numerous cybersecurity threats, including the 2024 presidential election, which many experts believe will be targeted by foreign -government- backed hackers.
Under the Biden administration, Washington has dealt with several major cyberattacks on federal agencies, including a July intrusion campaign targeting senior State and Commerce Department officials.
Mr. Coker entered the White House with four decades of experience working for the US government. He began his career as a naval officer and held important positions such as Director of the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) and Director of the National Security Agency (NSA).
Speaking to senators during the hearing, Mr. Coker emphasized that his office has a “support role” in protecting local and state governments.
The National Cyber Director position was created in the 2021 National Defense Authorization Act – the annual US military budget bill – after a massive cyberattack on government systems known as Solarburst. It replaces the White House cyber coordinator, which served a similar purpose.
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