Homeland Security No 2 Departs After Fostering Civilian Cyber Workforce

The Homeland Security Department second-in-command, who endeavored to boost civilian cybersecurity staffing, is exiting the agency.

While at DHS, Jane Holl Lute strategized to boost morale, if not pay, for in-house cyber talent. It is widely recognized that the federal government struggles to pluck cyber professionals from lucrative private sector careers. “We’re trying to create a culture that allows cyber heroes to bring value and to feel valued" by superiors and society, she told Nextgov in October 2012. Lute was responsible for instituting recommendations by a group of technology revolutionaries, including DefCon hacker convention founder Jeff Moss, on economical solutions to the human capital problem. In fall 2012, she backed the creation of a cyber reserve corps. It would corral veterans, corporate network whizzes and other computer-savvy civilians during national crises. Jane Holl Lute plans to enter the field of international Internet affairs.