US-CERT Director Leaves Abruptly

The director of the agency that protects the federal government from cyber attacks has resigned abruptly in the wake of a spate of hacks against government networks.

U.S. Computer Emergency Readiness Team (US-CERT) director Randy Vickers resigned his position July 22, effective immediately, according to an e-mail to US-CERT staff sent by Bobbie Stempfley, acting assistant secretary for cybersecurity and communications. Vickers served as director of US-CERT since April 2009; previously, he was deputy director. Current US-CERT deputy director Lee Rock will serve as interim director until the DHS names a successor for Vickers.