President Donald Trump has selected Katherine Sutton as the Pentagon’s next top digital security official. Sutton is currently serving as the chief technology adviser to U.S. Cyber Command’s commander and director of Pentagon Operations. Her career has included numerous significant roles, including as the GOP staff leader for the cybersecurity subcommittee under Senator Mike Rounds of South Dakota. Sutton’s appointment to this position marks a pivotal moment, as she would be only the second Senate-confirmed individual to hold this important role, which is critical to the nation’s defense against cyber threats.
The position of assistant secretary of defense for cyber policy was created in the fiscal 2023 defense policy bill.
This action came after years of frustration from Congress over the lack of a civilian leader to oversee digital security policy at the Department of Defense. In the absence of a permanent appointee, Ashley Manning, who was the principal deputy assistant secretary of defense, had served in an acting capacity since the transition to the Biden administration. The creation of this position underscores the growing importance of cyber defense at the Pentagon and the need for dedicated leadership in this critical area.
Sutton’s nomination comes at a time when Cyber Command is pushing forward with its ambitious modernization initiative known as “Cyber Command 2.0.”
This plan, which seeks to strengthen the military’s cyber capabilities, has been a focal point of discussions within the Pentagon. During the Senate Intelligence Committee’s annual worldwide threats hearing, Gen. Timothy Haugh, the chief of Cyber Command and the NSA, confirmed that they had submitted the implementation scheme for Cyber Command 2.0 to the Pentagon. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth had expedited the process, urging Cyber Command to accelerate its progress, which led to the swift submission of the modernization plan.
Alongside Sutton’s nomination, Laurie Buckhout, a retired Army colonel, has been appointed as the deputy assistant secretary of Defense for cyber policy. Buckhout had previously run for Congress in North Carolina as a Republican, and her new role will not require Senate confirmation. This appointment further highlights the Pentagon’s efforts to bolster its leadership in the realm of cybersecurity, as the growing threats in the digital landscape demand robust and strategic responses. These leadership changes, including Sutton’s potential confirmation, are key to ensuring the Department of Defense is equipped to handle the complex challenges posed by modern cyber threats.
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