Microsoft hires national security advisor
Published: 14 Nov 2002 09:14 GMT
Microsoft said on Wednesday that it has tapped Thomas Richey, a retired US Coast Guard officer, to fill the new post of federal director of homeland security at the company. After serving for 20 years in the Coast Guard, Richey retired in 2001 and became policy adviser to Democrat senator John Kerry, in whose office he worked on homeland security and other issues.
Microsoft said it created the post in order to help the government manage its IT systems and to make sure the different systems work together.
"Tom's appointment is a significant step in establishing Microsoft as a strategic partner to the government as it evolves its homeland security strategy," Mitra Azizirad, general manager of Microsoft's federal systems, said in a statement.
The company said Richey would work with policymakers and Microsoft partners to help the government develop its IT framework for homeland security. Microsoft already has several ties to government security efforts. Its former chief security strategist, Howard Schmidt, is vice chairman of the President's Critical Infrastructure Protection Board.
Many companies are hoping to get a piece of the homeland security business, which could provide a windfall to the tech sector. Any new homeland security department set up by the US government would need to purchase computer equipment for internal use and would likely promote new technology to help the United States fight terrorism.
What's more, government officials have said they need more cooperation from the private sector, particularly because so many of the country's tech systems are under the control of companies.
In September, the US government unveiled its draft cybersecurity strategy plan. The "National Strategy to Secure Cyberspace" calls on all companies to help secure their portion of the information technology infrastructure. Government officials fear that the nation's computer systems in general, and the Internet in particular, could be vulnerable to a terrorist attack and asked for more collaboration between the private and public sectors.
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