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DHS Appoints New NCS Director

Arlington VA, January 8, 2007 - The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) today announced that Sallie McDonald would become the Director and Deputy Manager of the National Communications System – a part of the Cyber Security and Telecommunications (CS&T) Branch within the Department’s Preparedness Directorate.

Sallie McDonald

Sallie McDonald became Director of the National Communications System on January 8 (Photo by Robert Flores, Defense Information Systems Agency)

McDonald replaces Dr. Peter Fonash, who served as the NCS Director and Deputy Manager from July 2004. Fonash will stay within the Department and now serves as the Chief Technology Officer to DHS Assistant Secretary Gregory Garcia, who heads CS&T.

In her role, McDonald is responsible for the planning for and provision of national security and emergency preparedness communications for the Federal government. Secretary of Homeland Security Michael Chertoff serves as the NCS Executive Agent, and George W. Foresman, the DHS Under Secretary for Preparedness, is the Manager of the NCS.

Prior to this assignment, McDonald served a one-year fellowship at George Mason University’s School of Law, working on a Critical Infrastructure Research Program.

McDonald was the leader of one of the 22 organizations that comprised the original Department of Homeland Security. Throughout her tenure at DHS, she has worked with public and private sector organizations to develop working relationships with the department. McDonald has also been particularly active in the international arena, briefing foreign governments on critical infrastructure protection measures, sharing best practices and encouraging others to adopt measures to protect their country’s critical assets.

McDonald worked at General Services Administration (GSA) from 1977 until her transfer to DHS. While working at GSA, McDonald was the Assistant Commissioner for Information Assurance and Critical Infrastructure Protection, and was responsible for the Federal Computer Incident Response Center (FedCIRC), which on March 1, 2003 was transferred to DHS. FedCIRC was the Federal Government’s focal point for computer security incident recognition, reporting, handling and prevention.

She is an active participant in the cyber security community at the highest levels of government and has participated in the evolving face of critical infrastructure protection. She has testified on cyber security issues numerous times to both the U.S. Senate and the U.S. House of Representatives.
While at GSA she also spearheaded programs such as E-Authentication, Safeguard, Access Certificates for Electronic Services (ACES) and Managed Security Services. She also led the national effort for the Y2K Information Coordination Center.

McDonald began her career in the telecommunications area at GSA, where she served in a variety of technical and management positions.

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Reviewed January 9, 2007