Biden taps cyber policy veteran for new Pentagon post

President Joe Biden on Thursday announced he intends to nominate Michael Sulmeyer, the U.S. Army’s principal cyber advisor, to be the Pentagon’s first digital policy chief.

Recorded Future News first reported last year that Sulmeyer — who has served in various senior roles at the National Security Council, U.S. Cyber Command and the National Security Agency — was in contention to be the department’s assistant secretary of defense for cyber policy.

The post was created in the fiscal year 2023 defense policy bill following years of congressional irritation that the Pentagon lacks a civilian leader who is accountable for digital security policy.

The department previously tasked an independent third-party to examine the proposed office and how to set it up within the agency’s bureaucracy. 

Sources previously told Recorded Future News that the office would most likely open this week.

A DOD spokesperson did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

In his current role, Sulmeyer is responsible for advising the Army Secretary Christine E. Wormuth “on all cyber matters, including issues of readiness, capabilities, and strategy,” the White House said in a statement.

In addition, he was the head of the Cybersecurity Project at the Harvard Kennedy School’s Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs. 

Sulmeyer also taught at the University of Texas School of Law and was a senior fellow at Georgetown University’s Center for Security and Emerging Technology, according to the White House.