As the incoming Biden administration continues to change the US federal leadership, the National Security Agency announced Fri. that Rob Joyce, who is currently serving at the US Embassy in London, was named to lead its cyber-security division.
Joyce will replace Anne Neuberger, who is now Deputy National Security Advisor for the incoming Biden administration.
Joyce will take over from Anne Neuberger, who will leave the post to serve as Deputy National Security Adviser for the National Security Council (NSC), putting her in charge of cyber-security for the entire US Federal Govt.
Announcement
‘We are pleased to announce Rob Joyce as our next @NSACyber Director & are excited about the expertise he brings to continue the #cybersecurity mission! pic.twitter.com/IQHnM9OwLN
— NSA/CSS (@NSAGov) January 15, 2021’
Joyce is not a newcomer to US Govt. cyber-security. He has worked for the NSA since 1989. Under the Trump Administration, he also served as a Special Assistant to the President & Cyber-Security Co-Ordinator at the White House as Deputy Homeland Security Advisor & Acting Homeland Security Advisor, among other assignments.
Solar Winds Support
Both Joyce & Neuberger’s promotions come at a time when the US Federal Govt. is still dealing with the aftermath from the Solar Winds attack. There seems to be substantial support from the incoming Biden White House for the work needed to strengthen the US cyber-security infrastructure.
The Biden administration’s proposed massive $1.9 trillion COVID-19 relief package includes $9 billion set aside to modernise the Federal IT infrastructure to prevent cyber-attacks.
Biden Proposal
“The recent cyber-security breaches of Federal Govt. data systems underscore the importance & urgency of strengthening US cyber-security capabilities, the Biden proposal outlined.
“President-elect Biden is calling on Congress to launch the most ambitious effort ever to modernize and secure Federal IT & networks.”
There are extra measures called for in the proposal to deal with the Solar Winds breach directly, including: $200m for extra hires to support the Federal Chief
Information Security Officer (CISO) & US Digital Service; $300m to modernise the General Services Administration’s IT systems; & $690m for CISA to spend on Federal-Civilian network security & pilot secure cloud-computing services.
So, whilst Joyce takes over at a particularly fraught time for US cyber-security, he will likely have plenty of resources to help.
Light Displays
When he is not working on cyber-security, Joyce uses his Twitter feed to show off his private passion — large-scale holiday light displays.
Last Christmas, Joyce proudly shared his Notre Dame light display featured on NBC TV.
‘My Notre Dame display is getting a little love from NBC! https://t.co/jxZ5IUD7V8
— Rob Joyce (@RGB_Lights) December 25, 2020’
Even his bio for speaking events refers to his love of lights.
“Over Christmas, he runs a computerised light display synchronized to music, likely visible from the International Space Station,” it read.
https://www.cybernewsgroup.co.uk/virtual-conference-january-2021/
