CISA Names Three Leadership Appointments

The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency added to its leadership Monday, announcing three appointments—each of whom have previous experience in the federal government.

Nitin Natarajan, formerly a director at Avantus Federal in the Homeland Security and federal/civilian markets, will serve as CISA’s deputy director. In his new role, Natarajan will oversee CISA’s Cybersecurity and Infrastructure divisions, as well as the National Risk Management Center and the Emergency Communications Division. Earlier in his career, Natarajan held several roles in the federal government, including as the deputy assistant administrator for the Office of Land and Emergency Management at the Environmental Protection Agency and as a director within the Health and Human Services Department.

Eric Goldstein, who served on President Biden’s agency review teams, will serve as CISA’s executive assistant director for cybersecurity. Goldstein worked in the Obama administration in various roles from 2013 to 2017 at the National Protection and Programs Directorate, a precursor agency to CISA. His most recent work occurred as Goldman Sachs’ head of cybersecurity policy, strategy and regulation. At CISA, he’ll be responsible for protecting and strengthening civilian agencies and the nation’s critical infrastructure from cyber threats.

In addition, CISA named David Mussington its executive assistant director for infrastructure security. Mussington moves to the public sector from academia, formerly serving as Professor of the Practice and Director of the Center for Public Policy and Private Enterprise at the School of Public Policy, University of Maryland College Park. In his new role, Mussington will lead CISA’s efforts to secure critical infrastructure.

The appointments come at a critical time for the agency, which is dealing with the fallout and investigation into a massive hacking campaign that compromised several agencies and private sector companies. Last week, the White House announced it was preparing executive action in response to the hack, and CISA will be at the forefront of its efforts at the civilian level.  

“CISA is gaining strong advocates and leaders with these appointments, and I welcome them to the team,” CISA Acting Executive Director Brandon Wales said in a statement. “Their appointments this early in the new administration signals a commitment to CISA’s mission and the recognition of our role in defending the nation’s critical infrastructure against cyber and physical threats.”