The Homeland Security named John Streufert as the new director of the National Cybersecurity Division, according to an email obtained by Federal News Radio and confirmed by DHS as authentic.

Streufert comes to DHS from the State Department where he was the chief information security officer and deputy chief information officer for the past five-plus years.

Streufert replaces Nicole Dean, who will leave government Jan. 22 to work for Raytheon. He will start at DHS Jan. 17 and have one week of overlap with Dean.

“Although Nicole is leaving rather large shoes to fill, there is no doubt that John’s range of experience will also bring vast knowledge and innovation to the NCSD organization,” wrote Bobbie Stempfley, deputy assistant secretary for cybersecurity and communications in an email to staff. “In this important role, he will continue to build and maintain an effective national cyberspace response system and implement a cyber-risk management program for the protection of critical infrastructure. He will also work to maintain and strengthen our collaborations with public, private and international entities to secure the nation’s critical cyber infrastructure.”

This is the first hire under Mark Weatherford, who became the deputy undersecretary for cybersecurity in late November.

As Streufert comes to DHS, Rear Adm. Michael Brown is retiring today. Brown has been the director for Cybersecurity Coordination in the National Protection and Programs Directorate (NPPD) since May 2008.

Brown’s retirement ceremony will be held today and Secretary Janet Napolitano will be attending.

Brown’s decision to retire is not surprising. He has been planning to leave government service for better part of a year.

He’s spent 32 years in the Navy, holding an assortment of positions including serving as director for Information Operations Division and deputy director for Cryptology Division at the Navy Staff in Washington. He also was designated as the special assistant for Signals Intelligence and information operations to commander, Naval Network Warfare Command. In this position he led the Navy’s expansion of its operational role in cyberspace.

Streufert’s decision to move over to DHS helps repopulate an organization that has seen four senior cyber officials leave since the summer.

He has been a leader in the use of continuous monitoring of federal systems and helped show that the Federal Information Security Management Act (FISMA) doesn’t have to be about filling out reports.

In addition to working at State, Streufert worked in technical management roles for the Agency for International Development, the Federal Crop Insurance Corporation, Naval Shipyards and the Naval Sea Systems Command.

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