DHS CIO resigns

Recently installed Department of Homeland Security CIO Richard Staropoli has resigned his position at the agency, FCW has confirmed.

Staropoli had been on the job only since late April after being tapped by President Donald Trump to replace former CIO Luke McCormack.

A DHS official speaking on background confirmed the departure. The news was first reported by FedScoop.

No official announcement on Staropoli's resignation or immediate successor had yet circulated within DHS as of late on Aug. 3, the official told FCW. Stephen Rice is DHS' deputy CIO, having moved into that job in June after four years as Transportation Security Administration CIO.

Staropoli had reported to now-former DHS Secretary John Kelly, who became White House Chief of Staff on July 31. Kelly was replaced on an acting basis by Deputy Secretary Elaine Duke.

Staropoli had been managing director, CISO and head of counter-party risk at the Fortress Investment Group before taking the DHS position.

He's also a personal friend of President Trump's sons Donald Jr. and Eric, and told an Australian newspaper in the days after the election that he was in line for a senior post at DHS.

Staropoli is a 25-year veteran of the Secret Service, serving in the Presidential Protective Division, in the agency's hostage rescue unit and as the chief of polygraph operations. He received a commendation from President George W. Bush for his performance in the White House during the Sept. 11 attacks.

At a June conference in Washington, he said his eight years of experience as a New York City hedge fund chief information security officer would help him sort through the fast-paced, diverse IT needs for his agency. He told FCW in a short interview at the event that updating years-old operating software running on hundreds of headquarters computers was a primary item on his to-do list as he took over the job.