The White House has nominated Michael LoSapio, chief information security officer at data analytics firm Palantir, to lead the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA). Part of the Department of Homeland Security, CISA is the lead federal agency responsible for protecting the nation’s critical infrastructure from cyber and physical threats.
If confirmed by the Senate, LoSapio would succeed Acting Director Nick Andersen. CISA has been without a Senate-confirmed director for nearly two years.
LoSapio’s nomination brings a prominent private-sector cybersecurity leader into a national security role. It may face Senate scrutiny because of Palantir’s extensive and sometimes controversial work with government agencies.