Defense Department Appoints Acting CIO

Defense Department

The department taps its chief cybersecurity officer to lead the CIO shop.

The Defense Department Friday announced Essye Miller will serve as the department’s acting chief information officer.

Miller will be the department’s second acting CIO this year. After former Defense CIO Terry Halverson retired at the end of February, John Zangardi served as acting CIO until President Donald Trump nominated him to serve as the Homeland Security Department’s permanent CIO in October.

Miller’s appointment brings the tally of acting CIOs leading the 24 CFO Act agencies to six.

Miller’s regular positions as the department’s deputy chief information officer for cybersecurity and senior information security officer include leading the agency’s cybersecurity strategy and coordinating cybersecurity standards and policies with other federal agencies. According to a Defense announcement, she will continue some of her responsibilities as SISO.

Miller is career member of the Senior Executive Service brings extensive cybersecurity experience from the Army, where she served as director of cybersecurity for the Army CIO/G-6 and as Army's senior information assurance officer.