Rod Beckstrom and the National Cyber Security Center at DHS
I recently read some GREAT news. One of the nation’s greatest organizational/technological thinkers and entrepreneurs, Rod Beckstrom, has answered the call to service and will be joining the Department of Homeland Security (DHS).
Rod Beckstrom is famous for many things. Among CTO s and enterprise technologists he is viewed as a champion for the smart use of new collaborative technologies to transform organizations. He is really far more than that, however. He is one of a new generation of forward thinking leaders who understand that sometimes in order to lead you must serve, and sometimes in order to really lead you must adopt powerful new organizational frameworks that enable disruption of the current order. He is the co-author of the bestselling, frequently quoted, often discussed The Starfish and the Spider: The Unstoppable Power of Leaderless Organizations
The following is a quote from the Statement by Homeland Security Secretary Chertoff:
“I am pleased to announce my appointment of Rod Beckstrom as the first Director of the National Cyber Security Center (NCSC). Rod will serve the department by coordinating cyber security efforts and improving situational awareness and information sharing across the federal government.
The department is leading efforts to protect federal networks and enhance capabilities that defend and reduce cyber-associated risks. The NCSC will work with the interagency to implement cyber security strategies in a cohesive way, consistent with our privacy laws.
Rod has over 25 years of experience in designing and implementing new internet technologies. He brings to the department a specialized Internet expertise, and unique entrepreneurial and creative business thinking. Rod received both his BA and MBA from Stanford University, and was a Fulbright Scholar in Switzerland.”
This news of Rod’s joining DHS is really very exciting.
So, Rod, good luck and thank you very much for deciding to serve the nation in this capacity.
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Not that I’m not glad its happening, but where was this sort of thinking in the winter of 2001? You can accomplish a lot in 10 months . . . on the outside. Does he have the juice to move at ‘Net speed inside the gov’t? Time will certainly tell, but I think we have to be honest about the probability that he’s going to run into the same slow-roll buzz-saw that has chewed up so many before him.
Mike, I hope Rod is going into this with his eyes wide open. There are going to be some huge challenges. But I’m sure DHS and the rest of the Federal space will be far better off for his service. And when he returns to his previously scheduled life I think he will find he is far better off for having served.
Cheers,
Bob
I hope he surrounds himself with smart people from within DHS, and works to implement some change.
Mark,
Sounds like a great way to go. There are some really smart, really motivated folks there in DHS, and I bet they will be lining up to get on board with his vision.
Cheers,
Bob Gourley
I encourage you to get to know Rod Beckstrom and read his work. I met Rod while managing the tech for development practice at the United Nations and was immediately impressed with his deep knowledge of the most urgent tech issues we face and also his practical, get-it-done attitude based on decades of experience in the private sector. I’m sur eRod knows the clock is ticking, and I don’t think hes going to waste any time.
Thanks for the note. I picked his book up again and enjoyed re-reading it. I’d recommend all in government do the same.
Tech development at the UN sounds like an incredible position where you must have had to struggle against some huge challenges. If Rod helped there then it is quite an endorsement.
Cheers,
Bob Gourley
Many thanks for the positive words of encouragement and support! We are doing our best to help move the national cybersecurity effort forward.
Thanks Rod for the note, and thanks again for the service.
I’ve already noticed a difference in government from the changes you have put in place and I can tell those are changes that will endure, so thanks for that.
More later,
Bob Gourley