{{Short description|Former American government official}} {{Use mdy dates|date=July 2025}} {{Infobox officeholder | name = Jen Easterly | image = Director-Jen-Easterly-portrait.jpg | caption = Official portrait, 2021 | office = 2nd Director of the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency | term_start = July 13, 2021 | term_end = January 20, 2025 | president = Joe Biden | predecessor = Chris Krebs | successor = Bridget Bean (acting) | birth_name = Jennie Margaret Koch<ref name=marriage/> | education = United States Military Academy (BS)<br>Pembroke College, Oxford (MA) | allegiance = United States | branch = United States Army | service_years = 1990–2010 | rank = Lieutenant Colonel (United States) | spouse = {{marriage|Jason Tighe Easterly|April 3, 2004}} | children = 1 }}
'''Jen Easterly''' is an American cybersecurity expert and former government official who served as the Director of the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency in the Biden administration. She was confirmed by a voice vote in the Senate on July 12, 2021.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2021-06-16|title=PN420 – Nomination of Jen Easterly for Department of Homeland Security, 117th Congress (2021–2022)|url=https://www.congress.gov/nomination/117th-congress/420|access-date=2021-07-12|website=Congress.gov}}</ref><ref name="newcisa">{{cite web |url=https://gizmodo.com/cisa-gets-a-new-director-amidst-ongoing-ransomware-dump-1847277830 |title=CISA Gets a New Director Amidst Ongoing Ransomware Dumpster Fire |last=Ropek |first=Lucas |publisher=Gizmodo |date=July 12, 2021 |website=Gizmodo.com |access-date=July 13, 2021}}</ref>
== Early life and education == The daughter of an enlisted Vietnam War veteran,<ref name="whatnexttbd">{{cite AV media|url=https://slate.com/podcasts/what-next-tbd/2024/10/what-americas-director-of-cybersecurity-worries-about|title=How Secure Is Our Election? Why you can be confident in America's electoral integrity, even as confidence in American democracy is plummeting.|author-link1=Lizzie O'Leary|author-first1=Lizzie|author-last1=O'Leary|publisher=Slate|date=October 20, 2024}}</ref> Easterly was raised in Potomac, Maryland and attended Winston Churchill High School and graduated as valedictorian in 1986. She earned a bachelor's degree from the United States Military Academy in 1990 and a Master of Arts in politics, philosophy, and economics from Pembroke College, Oxford, where she studied as a Rhodes Scholar.<ref>{{Cite news|date=October 5, 2021|title=Transcript: Securing Cyberspace with Jen Easterly|language=en|newspaper=The Washington Post|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/washington-post-live/2021/10/05/transcript-securing-cyberspace-with-jen-easterly/|access-date=January 13, 2022|issn=0190-8286}}</ref><ref name=":0">{{Cite web|title=Jen Easterly|url=http://newamerica.org/our-people/jen-easterly/|access-date=April 14, 2021|website=New America (organization)|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1989/12/11/us/32-americans-awarded-rhodes-scholarships.html |title=32 Americans Awarded Rhodes Scholarships |date=December 11, 1989 |newspaper=The New York Times |access-date=April 15, 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/local/1989/12/16/four-from-dc-area-make-the-rhodes-scholarship-grade/b9e317d2-8021-4d42-9898-3e2128049dbd/ |title=Four from D.C. Area Make the Rhodes Scholarship Grade |first=Jenice |last=Armstrong |date=December 16, 1989 |newspaper=The Washington Post |access-date=April 15, 2022}}</ref>
== Army career == Easterly served in the United States Army for twenty years and was an assistant professor of social sciences at the United States Military Academy.<ref name=":0" /> She was approved for promotion to major in 2000, lieutenant colonel in 2006 and colonel in 2012.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.congress.gov/nomination/106th-congress/1247 |title=PN1247 — Army — 106th Congress (1999-2000) |date=October 6, 2000 |website=U.S. Congress |access-date=2022-04-15}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.congress.gov/nomination/109th-congress/1883 |title=PN1883 — Army — 109th Congress (2005-2006) |date=September 29, 2006 |website=U.S. Congress |access-date=2022-04-15}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.congress.gov/nomination/112th-congress/1278 |title=PN1278 — Army — 112th Congress (2011-2012) |date=February 17, 2012 |website=U.S. Congress |access-date=2022-04-15}}</ref>
From 2002 to 2004, she was executive assistant to Condoleezza Rice, the National Security advisor during the George W. Bush administration.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Biden Beefs Up Cyber Team with NSA, DHS Veterans in Key Roles at White House, CISA, DHS|url=https://www.hstoday.us/people-on-the-move/biden-beefs-up-cyber-team-with-nsa-dhs-veterans-in-key-roles-at-white-house-cisa-dhs/|access-date=2021-04-19|website=Homeland Security Today|date=12 April 2021|language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |last=Rice |first=Condoleezza |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=omsjfwomwSoC&dq=Jen+Easterly&pg=PA207 |title=No Higher Honor: A Memoir of My Years in Washington |date=September 2012 |publisher=Broadway Paperbacks |isbn=978-0-307-98678-8 |pages=207 |language=en}}</ref> From 2004 to 2006, she was a battalion executive officer and brigade operations officer in the 704th Military Intelligence Brigade, a subordinate unit of the United States Army Intelligence and Security Command. Easterly was deployed to Baghdad as chief of the cryptologic services group for the National Security Agency. She also worked for NSA's elite Tailored Access Operations.<ref name=Pol1/>
From 2009 to 2010, Easterly served on the United States Cyber Command, which she helped establish.<ref name=Pol1>{{cite web |url=https://www.politico.com/news/2021/07/12/senate-confirms-jen-easterly-cyber-499335 |title=Senate confirms Jen Easterly as head of U.S. cyber agency |last=Geller |first=Eric |publisher=POLITICO |date=July 12, 2021 |website=politico.com |access-date=July 13, 2021}}</ref> From 2010 to 2011, Easterly was a cyber advisor for the NSA stationed in Kabul. After retiring from the Army as a lieutenant colonel, she served as deputy director of the NSA for counterterrorism from May 2011 to October 2013.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Jen Easterly's Mission-Driven Purpose|url=https://www.morganstanley.com/blog/multicultural/a-life-of-leadership-and-service|access-date=2021-04-14|website=Morgan Stanley|language=en}}</ref>
== Post-Army career == From October 2013 to February 2016, Easterly was a special assistant to President Barack Obama and senior director for counterterrorism on the National Security Council. After the end of the Obama administration, Easterly joined Morgan Stanley as global head of the company's cybersecurity division.<ref>{{Cite web|date=April 12, 2021|title=Statement by National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan on National Cyber Director and CISA Director Nominations|url=https://bidenwhitehouse.archives.gov/briefing-room/statements-releases/2021/04/12/statement-by-national-security-advisor-jake-sullivan-on-national-cyber-director-and-cisa-director-nominations/|access-date=April 14, 2021|website=The White House|language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Jennifer Easterly|url=https://nationalsecurity.gmu.edu/jennifer-easterly/|access-date=April 14, 2021|website=National Security Institute|language=en-US|archive-date=April 14, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210414205521/https://nationalsecurity.gmu.edu/jennifer-easterly/|url-status=dead}}</ref>
== Director of the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency == In April 2021, President Joe Biden nominated Easterly to serve as the second Director of the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Geller |first=Eric |date=2021-04-12 |title=Biden names former NSA officials to key cybersecurity positions |url=https://www.politico.com/news/2021/04/12/biden-nominates-former-nsa-officials-480945 |access-date=2023-11-28 |website=POLITICO |language=en}}</ref> An uncontroversial nominee, Easterly received general praise for her qualifications from senators and media outlets. She was confirmed by voice vote<ref>{{Cite web |title=PN420 — Jen Easterly — Department of Homeland Security | date=12 July 2021 |url=https://www.congress.gov/nomination/117th-congress/420?q=%7B%22search%22%3A%5B%22easterly%22%5D%7D&s=1&r=1}}</ref> after being temporarily held up for outside reasons.<ref name="Pol1" /><ref name="newcisa" /> Easterly was sworn into office on July 13, 2021.<ref>{{cite web |title=Statement from New CISA Director Jen Easterly {{!}} CISA |url=https://www.cisa.gov/news/2021/07/13/statement-new-cisa-director-jen-easterly |website=www.cisa.gov|date=13 July 2021 }}</ref>
As director, Easterly argued that U.S. intelligence sharing efforts with Ukrainian government officials ahead of the 2022 Russian invasion should be a model for combating China-based hacking groups.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Vasquez |first=Christian |date=2023-06-12 |title=Ukraine information sharing a model for countering China, top cyber official says |url=https://cyberscoop.com/information-sharing-china-threat/ |access-date=2023-11-28 |website=CyberScoop |language=en-US}}</ref> In 2023, Easterly stated that potential cybersecurity threats posed by artificial intelligence (AI) development meant that the government should implement systemic safeguards.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2023-11-28 |title=AI threat demands new approach to security designs -US official |language=en |work=Reuters |url=https://www.reuters.com/technology/cybersecurity/ai-threat-demands-new-approach-security-designs-us-official-2023-11-27/ |access-date=2023-11-28}}</ref>
In 2023, while Easterly led CISA, it came under significant scrutiny for censorship work from members of Congress who claimed CISA was involved in an attempted cover up. The Republican-led House Judiciary Committee and the Select Subcommittee on the Weaponization of the Federal Government accused CISA of colluding with big tech companies and disinformation partners to censor Americans.<ref>{{Cite press release |date=2023-06-26 |title=New Report Reveals CISA Tried to Cover Up Censorship Practices |language=en |work=House Judiciary |url=https://judiciary.house.gov/media/press-releases/new-report-reveals-cisa-tried-cover-censorship-practices |access-date=2025-02-08}}</ref> The House Republican claims have come under scrutiny as "attempts to distort the truth for political gain".<ref>{{Cite report |date=2023-08-23 |title= Addressing falsehoods and the manipulated narrative of House Judiciary Committee Majority document: "The Weaponization of CISA: How a 'Cybersecurity' Agency Colluded With Big Tech and 'Disinformation' Partners to Censor Americans" |language=en |author-first1= Kate |author-last1=Starbird|url= https://www.cip.uw.edu/2023/08/23/starbird-house-judiciary-committee-report/ |access-date=2025-07-30}}</ref>
Easterly stepped down from her position on January 20, 2025.<ref>{{cite news |date=November 18, 2024 |title=Easterly, CISA Director, to Step Down on Inauguration Day |url=https://www.darkreading.com/vulnerabilities-threats/jen-easterly-cisa-director-resign-inauguration-day |access-date=2025-01-22 |work=Dark Reading}}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine |title=Under Trump, US Cyberdefense Loses Its Head | url=https://www.wired.com/story/big-interview-jen-easterly-cisa-cybersecurity/|magazine=Wired |access-date=2025-02-02| last1=Newman| first1=Lily Hay}}</ref>
== Post-CISA Career ==
On July 30, 2025, Easterly was appointed to the Robert F. McDermott Distinguished Chair in the Department of Social Sciences at West Point.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Seldon |first=Matt |date=2025-07-30 |title=Jen Easterly, Former CISA Director, Returns to West Point as Distinguished Chair in Social Sciences Department |url=https://www.hstoday.us/industry/people-on-the-move/jen-easterly-former-cisa-director-returns-to-west-point-as-distinguished-chair-in-social-sciences-department/ |access-date=2025-07-31 |website=HSToday |language=en-US}}</ref> Later that day, after far-right activist Laura Loomer criticized the appointment, Secretary of the Army Daniel Driscoll rescinded the service agreement and ordered a review of the hiring practices.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Otto |first=Greg |date=2025-07-30 |title=Army Secretary forces West Point to rescind appointment given to Easterly |url=https://cyberscoop.com/jen-easterly-west-point-mcdermott-chair-laura-loomer-dan-driscoll-army/ |access-date=2025-07-31 |website=CyberScoop |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Cooper |first=Helene |date=2025-07-30 |title=Army Secretary Orders West Point to Pull Appointment After a Laura Loomer Complaint |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2025/07/30/us/politics/army-secretary-west-point-trump-loomer.html |newspaper=New York Times |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Bertrand |first=Natasha |date=2025-07-30 |title=Army Secretary withdraws West Point job offer to former Biden official amid pressure from far-right activist |url=https://www.cnn.com/2025/07/30/politics/army-secretary-withdraws-west-point-job-offer |access-date=2025-07-31 |website=CNN |language=en}}</ref>
== Awards == * Bronze Star (multiple awards)<ref name=":1">{{Cite web|title=Jen Easterly {{!}} CISA|url=https://www.cisa.gov/jen-easterly|access-date=January 13, 2022|website=Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency|language=en}}</ref> * 2018 James W. Foley Legacy Foundation American Hostage Freedom Award<ref name=":1" /><ref>{{Cite web|title=Awards & Fellows|url=https://jamesfoleyfoundation.org/awards-fellowships|access-date=January 16, 2022|website=jamesfoleyfoundation.org|language=en|archive-date=January 13, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220113232025/https://jamesfoleyfoundation.org/awards-fellowships|url-status=dead}}</ref>
== Personal life == Easterly is the daughter of Noel Clinton Koch and June Quint Koch. She married attorney Jason Tighe Easterly in Potomac, Maryland on April 3, 2004.<ref name=marriage>{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2004/04/04/style/weddings-celebrations-jennie-koch-jason-easterly.html |title=Weddings/Celebrations: Jennie Koch, Jason Easterly |date=April 4, 2004 |newspaper=The New York Times |access-date=April 15, 2022}}</ref> They have a son.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://agln.aspeninstitute.org/profile/4543 |title=Jen Easterly |website=Aspen Global Leadership Network |publisher=The Aspen Institute |access-date=April 16, 2022}}</ref> Judge Catharine Easterly of the District of Columbia Court of Appeals is her sister-in-law.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.legacy.com/us/obituaries/timesdispatch/name/harry-easterly-obituary?id=5395463 |title=Obituary: Harry Watkey Easterly, Jr. |date=June 16, 2005 |newspaper=Richmond Times-Dispatch |access-date=May 27, 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://richmond.com/obituaries/easterly-mary/article_418d13b1-eddc-58d5-9e94-037175cdbe20.html#tncms-source=login |title=Obituary: Mary Easterly |date=March 21, 2018 |newspaper=Richmond Times-Dispatch |access-date=May 27, 2022}}</ref>
== References == {{reflist}}
==External links== {{commons category-inline}} *{{C-SPAN|130747}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Easterly, Jen}} Category:Year of birth missing (living people) Category:Living people Category:United States Military Academy alumni Category:United States Army officers Category:American Rhodes Scholars Category:Alumni of Pembroke College, Oxford Category:George W. Bush administration personnel Category:Obama administration personnel Category:Biden administration personnel Category:United States Department of Homeland Security officials Category:Women government officials Category:United States Military Academy faculty Category:United States National Security Council staffers Category:National Security Agency people