Top DHS cybersecurity official explains departure

The top cybersecurity official at the Department of Homeland Security said he's stepping down next month to spend more time with his family even as a front-runner emerged for his replacement.

DHS Deputy Undersecretary of the National Protections and Programs Directorate Philip Reitinger announced Wednesday he will leave his post June 3 to spend more time with his family.

During an interview with The Hill on Thursday, Reitinger said he feels confident the team he leaves in place at DHS will be able to implement the White House's recently released legislative guidance for cybersecurity. 

"We've come a long was as a government and within DHS. I felt the time was right," Reitinger said. "I'm going to continue to be involved in this space, but I haven't really thought about how."

While Reitinger declined to discuss candidates for his replacement, one name that has been floated among cybersecurity circles is former Air Force chief information officer John Gilligan. SANS Institute research director Alan Paller called him one of the only federal CIOs that truly understands cybersecurity.

"He's a renaissance guy who motivates people to action," Paller said, noting Gilligan is also one of the few information technology officials that also has extensive experience managing the federal procurement process. "People trust him."

Currently the president of his own consulting firm, Gilligan is credited with radically improving the Air Force's network security while cutting costs about $100 million a year. He has also worked as senior vice president of SRA International and CIO of the Energy Department.

Immediately before joining DHS two years ago, Reitinger spent six years as chief trustworthy infrastructure strategist for Microsoft. He has also worked for the Pentagon and spent more than a decade at the Justice Department.

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