Foundational Questions Regarding the Federal Role in Cybersecurity

During the last two years of the Bush administration, the senior leadership at the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) spent substantial time and effort in first helping to craft, and then attempting to implement, Homeland Security Presidential Directive 23/National Security Presidential Directive 54 (HSPD 23/NSPD 54), Cyber Security and Monitoring.

By Brian M. White

Brian M. White is Managing Director and Chief Strategy Officer at the Chertoff Group, where he provides strategic advice on mergers, acquisitions and private equity investments, global border and supply chain security, cyber security, and international homeland security. His previous government service includes: Counselor to the Deputy Secretary, Department of Homeland Security; Chief of Staff, Office of Policy, Department of Homeland Security; Director of Cargo, Maritime & Trade Policy, Department of Homeland Security; and Professional Staff Member, Senate and House Committees on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. White joined the Chertoff Group from Lockheed Martin, where he was a Principal in their Maritime Systems and Sensors business.

By Gus P. Coldebella

Gus Coldebella is an Independent Consultant and Former General Counsel (Acting) and Former Deputy General Counsel, Department of Homeland Security. His areas of interest include Homeland security and intelligence law, Cybersecurity, Private-sector critical infrastructure protection. From February 7, 2007 to January 20, 2009, Gus P. Coldebella served as the top lawyer in the Department of Homeland Security, managing the 1,750 lawyer Office of the General Counsel, advising the Secretary and other senior leadership on issues arising throughout DHS, and coordinating with officials at executive branch agencies and at the White House on homeland security-related issues. He joined DHS as deputy general counsel in October 2005. Gus came to DHS after 11 years in private practice. Until September 2005, he was a partner at Goodwin Procter LLP in Boston, where he practiced in the firm's litigation department and specialized in trial and appellate work, complex business and transactional cases, securities class action defense, SEC investigations and enforcement actions, and corporate governance. He also was a special assistant district attorney in Middlesex County, Massachusetts. Gus is a graduate of Colgate University, where he currently serves as the president of its Alumni Council and an ex officio member of its Board of Trustees. He received his J.D. magna cum laude from Cornell Law School and was the symposium editor of the Cornell Law Review. He lives in Washington, D.C. with his wife Heather and his daughter Tenley.

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