Changes In The WorksChanges In The Works

Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff last week laid out a reorganization plan for the department that includes a new assistant secretary for cybersecurity and telecommunications. That person will report to the undersecretary of the Information Analysis and Infrastructure Protection Directorate, which, under the reorganization, is now known as the Preparedness Directorate.

The assistant secretary will be responsible for identifying and assessing the vulnerability of critical telecommunications infrastructure and assets and gathering infrastructure threat information. This person also will lead the national response to cyber and telecommunications attacks, according to Homeland Security's Web site.

Homeland Security's planned reorganization follows Chertoff's multistep review of the department's programs, policies, operations, and structure. Speaking last week in Washington, D.C., Chertoff pointed to IT management as one of his department's priorities.