Posted by Deputy Secretary Jane Holl Lute

Today, we are more interconnected than ever before - in an instant, we can communicate with a friend on the other side of the world, shop online, and research any topic. These global networks are critical to our economy, allowing us to communicate, travel, and power our homes.

But this increased interconnectivity also presents an increased risk of theft, fraud, and abuse to which no country, industry, community, or individual is immune.
DHS is committed to ensuring that cyberspace is safe and secure, enables innovation and prosperity, and protects privacy and civil liberties. Together with public and private sector partners, we are working to build a safe, secure cyberspace where the American way of life can thrive.

To that end, DHS’s cybersecurity mission is two-fold: first, we work with the private sector, states, and municipalities to support the cybersecurity efforts of critical infrastructure owners and operators. Second, we are responsible for securing networks for federal civilian departments and agencies – the .gov domain.
President Obama has proposed legislation that would give us the tools to execute our cybersecurity mission more effectively. This legislative proposal focuses on clarifying authorities, collaborating with the private sector, and driving measurable progress and outcomes.

The President’s proposal would establish national standards, protect federal networks, and allow DHS to provide enhanced voluntary assistance to our private sector and state, local, tribal, and territorial government partners. At the same time, it includes important safeguards to protect the privacy and civil liberties of the American public.

Over the coming weeks, we will discuss in this proposal in greater detail, and highlight more of the work we are already doing every day to secure cyberspace.
Cybersecurity is a shared responsibility in which all players have a role to play – government, private sector, and individuals. By making it easier to work together, we will better be able to protect cyberspace and the critical infrastructure upon which we all rely.

Posted by Deputy Secretary Jane Holl Lute

Today the Department of Homeland Security bids farewell to a true American patriot, professional, and valued member of the DHS leadership team – Rear Admiral Mike Brown, who this afternoon retires from the U.S. Navy after a remarkable, highly-decorated, 36 year career.

Admiral Brown began his service in the Navy in 1976 as a cadet at the U.S. Naval Academy. He graduated in 1980 and embarked on a military career that spanned three decades and included numerous fleet, joint, and national positions. He specialized in intelligence and information operations, and was instrumental in expanding the Navy’s operational role in cyberspace.

He joined the Department in 2008 as deputy assistant secretary, Cybersecurity and Communications, where he helped lead and strengthen many of the Department’s key cybersecurity programs and initiatives – from efforts to develop the nation’s first cyber incident response plan, to the deployment of new technologies to protect federal systems from cyber attacks, to major exercises such as Cyberstorm, to test our nation’s cyber-readiness and response.

As director, Cybersecurity Coordination, Admiral Brown also led the Department’s efforts to better integrate and coordinate our work with the Department of Defense to ensure joint capabilities, and he served as our senior representative to U.S. Cyber Command.

For his service to DHS and the United States, Admiral Brown receives from Secretary Napolitano the DHS Distinguished Service Medal, one of the Department’s highest honors. It is certainly well deserved.

Mike was singularly wise, thoughtful, and hard working. He has been an inspiration to all of us, and we will miss his presence, counsel, and sense of humor. All of us wish Mike fair winds and following seas in his life beyond his military and government service and we wish him the best of luck in his future endeavors.

Posted by Deputy Secretary Jane Holl Lute

Today’s modern world is more interconnected than ever before. Everything from online shopping to social networking to providing basic utilities requires the reliability and security of the Internet.

While increased interconnectivity has plenty of advantages, it has also increased the risk of theft, fraud, and abuse to individuals, businesses, communities, and governments.  That’s why cybersecurity is a shared responsibility, and each of us has a role to play. Emerging cyber threats require the engagement of our entire society including government and law enforcement, the private sector, and members of the public. 

Today, President Obama issued a presidential proclamation announcing the eighth annual National Cybersecurity Awareness Month (NCSAM), which has been recognized by state and local governments, as well as industry and academia.  Every October, we take the opportunity to engage public and private sector stakeholders, as well as the general public, to promote a safe, secure, and resilient cyber environment. 

This month is also the first anniversary of the Department’s Stop.Think.Connect.™ Campaign, an ongoing national public awareness effort to engage and challenge Americans to join practice and promote safe online practices.

Individuals and business can follow a few simple steps to keep themselves, their identities, and information safe online:

• Set strong passwords, and don’t share them with anyone.
• Keep your operating system, browser, and other critical software optimized by installing updates.
• Maintain an open dialogue with your children about Internet safety.
• Limit the amount of personal information you post online and use privacy settings to avoid sharing information widely.
• Be cautious about what you receive or read online – if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.

Throughout the month of October and beyond, we invite you to join us in creating a safe, secure and resilient cyberspace.

Say what you will, but if the government does one thing well, it’s acronyms. Here are two new ones for you: PMF and PHF. Rather than try to explain…

PHF Haroon stood up a DHS Attaché Office at the U.S. Embassy in Kabul; PMF Marianna analyzed the 5-year funding strategy for the Department’s HQ facilities consolidation project. PHF Zac led a team to ensure interoperable communications at the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver, while PMF Evan served as the scientific lead for a risk assessment study group.

They represent the Department to local, state and international governments, first responders and community organizations. They manage projects and people, draft key recommendations and reports, brief the Secretary on key initiatives. They possess graduate degrees from the nation’s top colleges and universities and will soon join the ranks of civil service at DHS, leading America’s effort to protect ourselves against all shared risks.

They are part of the Presidential Management Fellowship (PMF) and Policy Honors Fellowship (PHF) – two programs designed to cultivate a next generation of homeland security professionals. Last week these young leaders met with senior DHS officials to discuss the Department’s future, and learned a thing or two about their bosses in the process.

“You all are leaders – you are the future of this Department,” Deputy Secretary Jane Holl Lute told the Fellows. She gave the Fellows some career advice, and discussed the five keys to running a successful organization:

• Vision
• A Plan
• A Well-Organized Department
• The Right People
• Leadership

Alice Hill, University of Virginia law school classmate and now senior counselor to the Secretary, said she wouldn’t have pegged her former study partner as a politician, but said Napolitano immediately distinguished herself by her raw intellect, photographic memory and excellent judgment.

During the two-hour discussion, Fellows also had the opportunity to hear from Under Secretary for the National Protection and Programs Directorate Rand Beers, and Law Enforcement Advisor to the Secretary Chuck Marino.

Jamie

Jamie Corbett is a Presidential Management Fellow in the Directorate for Science and Technology at the Department of Homeland Security.

On Saturday, Deputy Secretary Jane Holl Lute participated in a U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services naturalization ceremony for seven members of the military at the Statue of Liberty. She administered the Oath of Allegiance to the seven and thanked them for their service.