Although the position was created in 2021, the co-chairs of the Cyberspace Solarium Commission (CSC) last week expressed extreme concern about the currently vacant National Cyber Director role, and urged President Joe Biden to nominate someone for the job soon.
The Office of the National Cyber Director was formed by Biden in 2021, and on the recommendation of the congressionally-authorized CSC, as an agency responsible for advising the president on matters of cybersecurity. Chris Inglis was appointed its first director. However, after helping create a national cyber strategy, Inglis stepped down from the role this February. Since then, former Department of Homeland Security (DHS) attorney and Deputy National Cyber Director Kemba Walden has taken on the job as acting director.
“As the co-chairs of the Cyberspace Solarium Commission, we write to you to urge your expeditious nomination of a new national cyber director (NCD),” U.S. Rep. Mike Gallagher (R-WI) and U.S. Sen. Angus King (I-ME), co-chairs of the CSC, wrote in letter to Biden. “We believe the answer to this vacancy is at the ready. Since Chris Inglis’ departure and even prior, Acting NCD Kemba Walden has demonstrated that she is highly qualified for and well suited to the position. We urge you to send her nomination to Congress soon, where we believe she will receive fair consideration and swift confirmation.”
Even with someone acting in the role, an official vacancy would leave implementation of a national strategy in doubt, as well as a lessening of the stature of the office, the pair added. They stressed that the delay in finding a replacement has gone on for three months and counting, without need.
“Acting NCD Walden is a proven, forward-thinking leader who can seamlessly step into the permanent position today,” the lawmakers wrote. “Ms. Walden’s prior experiences in government and industry give her unique insight into protecting critical infrastructure and fostering public-private collaboration, key pillars of the National Cybersecurity Strategy.”
The CSC itself was officially created in April 2019, providing recommendations for legal forward momentum on cyberdefense and cyberstrategy.