Phil Reitinger, a key player in helping Department of Homeland Security boost its capabilities in cyber security, on Wednesday announced that he would be resigning effective June 3.
Reitinger, in an internal e-mail that was sent to staff at the DHS National Protection and Programs Directorate (NPPD) and obtained by Defense Daily, said he hasn’t made a decision on his next job but noted that he has young children so plans to spend more time with his family this summer, something he hasn’t been able to do as much as he would like the past few years.
Under Reitinger DHS has been rolling out its Einstein cyber intrusion detection system across the federal government and has bolstered its own staff and subject matter expertise in cyber security.
Reitinger, who was appointed deputy under secretary of NPPD in 2009, was previously with Microsoft [MSFT] in charge of protecting the company’s critical technology infrastructure. At DHS Reitinger was in charge of protecting the federal government’s computing systems from domestic and foreign threats.
Rand Beers, under secretary of NPPD, also in an internal email obtained by Defense Daily praised Reitinger’s “leadership, intellectual rigor, enthusiasm, and commitment to the mission and the people of NPPD” in improving NPPD. He also said that Greg Schaffer, assistant secretary for the Cyber Security and Communications (CS&C) branch within NPPD, will become the acting deputy under secretary and that Bobbie Stempfley, Schaffer’s deputy, will become acting assistant secretary for CS&C.
Sen. Joseph Lieberman (I/D-Conn.), chairman of the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, also lauded Reitinger for boosting DHS’ cyber capabilities.
“The department has made tremendous strides in its cyber capabilities over the past few years, and Phil’s energy and expertise will be missed,” Lieberman said in a statement on Wednesday.