Category Archives: Matthew Masterson

DHS security unit makes another big hire from elsewhere in government

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The federal agency charged with protecting U.S. infrastructure — including its computer networks — has hired Daniel Kroese, the chief of staff for Republican Rep. John Ratcliffe, as a senior adviser. The National Protection and Programs Directorate (NPPD), part of the Department of Homeland Security, brings on Kroese as the Trump administration and Congress are seeking to harden U.S. cybersecurity, including its elections systems. Kroese, who announced the hire in an email to colleagues, will arrive at NPPD with close contacts throughout Congress. The move follows NPPD’s addition of Matthew Masterson, the former chairman of the Election Assistance Commission (EAC), as another senior adviser. Masterson’s role is focused on election security. It’s not clear yet what Kroese will specialize in at NPPD. “After a remarkable 4+ years, today will be my last day working for Congressman John Ratcliffe,” Kroese said in an email to colleagues. “I will soon be starting as Senior Advisor […]

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Matthew Masterson joins NPPD as senior cybersecurity adviser

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Former Election Assistance Commission Chairman Matthew Masterson is joining the Department of Homeland Security’s office that coordinates the agency’s election cybersecurity programs. Christopher Krebs, acting Under Secretary of DHS’s National Protection and Programs Directorate, announced in a press release Monday that the Office of Cybersecurity and Communications is bringing Masterson on as a senior cybersecurity adviser. “There are few who have Matt’s experience working with all levels of government and the private sector to protect our nation’s election systems,” Krebs said. “Matt is one of the most equipped to advise on this non-partisan issue and will be an asset to the organization. In a time where technology is constantly evolving, it is more important than ever that DHS maintains productive and trusted relationships with our partners.” Masterson served as an EAC commissioner from December 2014 until last month. Masterson has also served in various roles in Ohio’s Secretary of State’s office, […]

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New EAC chairman will continue to focus on election security

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Thomas Hicks has been tapped to chair the Election Assistance Commission, an agency that is considered central to protecting the U.S. election infrastructure from cyberthreats, the commission announced on Friday. Reuters reported on Thursday that Republican House Speaker, Rep. Paul Ryan, decided not to recommend former chairman Matthew Masterson for a second term as one of the EAC’s four commissioners. Commissioners are recommended by congressional leadership, nominated by the president and confirmed by the Senate. According to Reuters, some state officials were surprised that Masterson was not considered for a second term as commissioner, given that he has focused much of his tenure on cybersecurity. Hicks’s term as chairman began on Feb. 24, the day after the announcement. Hicks has served as an EAC commissioner since December 2014. He previously served as chairman from February 2016 to February 2017. “I was working on [Capitol] Hill when the Help America Vote Act was […]

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DHS, election officials begin work to protect voting systems ahead of 2018 elections

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As the U.S. government takes early steps to roll out a collaborative cybersecurity framework designed to protect election systems, the pressure is now on state election officials and the Department of Homeland Security to hash out the details in less than two years. Over the weekend, DHS shared how the government plans to implement the designation of election systems as “critical infrastructure,” an important categorization announced during the Obama administration that effectively allocates additional resources and defenses to related systems. A rough draft of this strategy was described in a meeting with state election officials, the FBI and the Election Assistance Commission over the weekend. The plan has four objectives: information sharing, collaboration, threat and risk analysis, and ensuring that states have appropriately updated defense systems, according to Politico. Matthew Masterson, EAC Chair, said that the timeliness of DHS’s plan appeared to be the primary concerns for state election officials who […]

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