# Rod Beckstrom

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{{Short description|American writer (born 1961)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2023}}
{{Infobox person
| name       = Rod Beckstrom
| birth_date = February 1961
| image      = Rod Beckstrom, the President and CEO of ICANN (5508156993) (cropped).jpg
| alma_mater = [Stanford University](/source/Stanford_University), <small>M.B.A.</small>
| occupation = American author<br>high-tech entrepreneur
| website    = [http://beckstrom.com/ beckstrom.com]
}}

'''Rod Beckstrom''' (born February 1961) is an American author, high-tech entrepreneur, and former CEO and President of [ICANN](/source/ICANN). He previously served as Director of the [National Cybersecurity Center](/source/National_Cybersecurity_Center).

==Education and early work==
Beckstrom received his BA with Honors and Distinction and an MBA from [Stanford University](/source/Stanford_University), where he served as the Chairman of the Council of Presidents of the Associated Students of Stanford University.{{Citation needed|date=October 2016}}

In August 2007, Beckstrom and Peter Thoeny, author of [TWiki](/source/TWiki) co-launched TWIKI.NET, a [Web 2.0](/source/Web_2.0) company that supports [TWiki](/source/TWiki), an open source wiki. Beckstrom became Chairman and Chief Catalyst. He was also co-founder, Chairman and CEO of CATS Software Inc., a derivatives and risk management software company which went public on [NASDAQ](/source/NASDAQ) and later was sold to [Misys](/source/Misys) PLC.{{Citation needed|date=October 2016}}

==Author==
He is co-author of the best-selling book ''[The Starfish and the Spider](/source/The_Starfish_and_the_Spider)'', which lays out a new organizational theory for considering all organizations as existing on a continuum between centralized to decentralized, with different implications and strategies for each firm based upon their position on that axis. In interviews with ''[The Washington Post](/source/The_Washington_Post)''<ref>{{cite news | title=Follow the Leader, or Think Like a Starfish? | newspaper=The Washington Post | pages=A11 | date=2007-01-01 | url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/12/31/AR2006123100832.html}}</ref> and ''[USA Today](/source/USA_Today)'',<ref>{{cite news | title=Can small businesses help win the war? | work=USA Today | url=https://www.usatoday.com/money/2007-01-02-terror-war-business-usat_x.htm | first=Del | last=Jones | date=2007-01-03 | accessdate=2010-05-22}}</ref> Beckstrom explains how, using the 'Starfish' concept illustrated in ''The Starfish and the Spider'', the U.S. Government can take a different approach in their dealings with [Al-Qaeda](/source/Al-Qaeda).  Beckstrom is also the formulator of an economic model for valuing networks, [Beckstrom's law](/source/Beckstrom's_law), which was presented at BlackHat 2009 and Defcon 2009.

==National Cyber Security Center==
On March 20, 2008, Beckstrom was appointed to run the newly created [National Cybersecurity Center](/source/National_Cybersecurity_Center),<ref>{{cite news | title=Outsider to Run Cyber-Security Initiative | work=The Wall Street Journal | pages=A8 | date=2008-03-20 | url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB120595975180949553?mod=googlenews_wsj | first=Siobhan | last=Gorman}}</ref> a position requiring "advanced thought leadership in areas like coordination, collaboration and team work in order to best serve the mission".<ref>{{cite news | title=White House Taps Tech Entrepreneur For Cyber Defense Post | newspaper=The Washington Post | date=2008-03-27 | url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/03/19/AR2008031903125.html | first=Brian | last=Krebs | accessdate=2010-05-22}}</ref><ref name="Eweek join">{{cite web|url=http://www.eweek.com/c/a/Security/Tech-Exec-Picked-for-Top-Cyber-Security-Post/|title=Tech Exec Picked for Top Cyber-Security Post|last=Naraine|first=Ryan |date=2008-03-21 |work=Security|publisher=Eweek|accessdate=2009-03-10}}</ref><ref name="Wired Blog3">{{cite web|url=http://blog.wired.com/defense/2008/03/military-surren.html|title=Military Surrenders Cyber Security to the Starfish|last=Shachtman|first=Noah |date=March 21, 2008|work=Info War, Paper Pushers & Powerpoint Rangers|publisher=Wired Blog|accessdate=2009-03-10}}</ref>

On March 5, 2009, less than a year after the position was created, he stated that he would resign as the Director of the [National Cybersecurity Center](/source/National_Cybersecurity_Center) (NCSC) on Friday, March 13, 2009.<ref name="resignation letter">{{cite news|url=https://online.wsj.com/public/resources/documents/BeckstromResignation.pdf|title=Beckstrom Resignation|last=Beckstrom|first=Rod |date=March 5, 2009|work=Resignation Letter|publisher=U.S. Department of Homeland Security|accessdate=2009-03-09}}</ref> He has recommended the Deputy Director Mary Ellen Seale as his successor.<ref name="resignation letter" /> He stated that a lack of cooperation from the [NSA](/source/NSA) and insufficient funding led to his resignation.<ref name="WSJ resignation">{{cite news|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB123638468860758145|title=Cybersecurity Chief Resigns |last=GORMAN|first=SIOBHAN |date=March 7, 2009 |work=Politics|publisher=The Wall Street Journal|accessdate=2009-03-09}}</ref><ref name="foxresig">{{cite news|url=http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,506830,00.html|title=Federal Cybersecurity Chief Quits, Blasts National Security Agency|date=March 8, 2009 |work=Scitech|publisher=The Wall Street Journal|accessdate=2009-03-09}}</ref><ref name="Information Week Resig">{{cite web|url=http://www.informationweek.com/news/security/government/showArticle.jhtml?articleID=215801375|title=U.S. Cybersecurity Director Resigns, Blames NSA|last=Claburn|first=Thomas|date=March 9, 2009<!-- 07:08 PM -->|work=Rod Beckstrom criticizes the NSA's dominance of most of the nation's cybersecurity initiatives.|publisher=InformationWeek|accessdate=2009-03-09|archive-date=10 March 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090310175133/http://www.informationweek.com/news/security/government/showArticle.jhtml?articleID=215801375|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref name="USA Today resig">{{cite news|url=http://blogs.usatoday.com/technologylive/2009/03/national-cybers.html |title=National cybersecurity director resigns; cites roadblocks |last=Acohido |first=Byron |publisher=USA Today |accessdate=2009-03-10 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20090310235349/http://blogs.usatoday.com/technologylive/2009/03/national-cybers.html |archivedate=March 10, 2009 }}</ref><ref name="Eweek resig">{{cite web|url=http://www.eweek.com/c/a/Security/After-Only-12-Months-Another-US-Cyber-Chief-Resigns/ |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130122212751/http://www.eweek.com/c/a/Security/After-Only-12-Months-Another-US-Cyber-Chief-Resigns/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=22 January 2013 |title=This URL has been excluded from the Wayback Machine. |last=Mark|first=Roy |date=2009-03-09 |work=Security|publisher=Eweek|accessdate=2009-03-10}}</ref><ref name="Wired Blog1">{{cite web|url=http://blog.wired.com/27bstroke6/2009/03/nsa-continues-b.html|title=NSA Chief Continues Bid to Take Over Cybersecurity|last=Zetter |first=Kim |date=March 9, 2009<!-- 2:06:05 PM-->|work=Cybersecurity|publisher=Wired Blog|accessdate=2009-03-10}}</ref><ref name="Wired Blog2">{{cite web|url=http://blog.wired.com/defense/2009/03/breaking-cyber.html|title=Cyber-Security Czar Quits Amid Fears of NSA Takeover|last=Shachtman|first=Noah |date=March 6, 2009|work=Homeland Security |publisher=Wired Blog|accessdate=2009-03-10}}</ref><ref name="Cnet resig">{{cite web|url=http://news.cnet.com/8301-13578_3-10191170-38.html|title=Cybersecurity official quits, blasts NSA power grab|last=McCullagh|first= Declan |date=March 6, 2009<!-- 7:42 PM PST -->|work=Politics and Law|publisher=Cnet News|accessdate=2009-03-10}}</ref><ref name="Google resig">{{cite web|url=https://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5hNqCqxlylTswpXjgksC9y1V8Y9zQ|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090310174040/http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5hNqCqxlylTswpXjgksC9y1V8Y9zQ|url-status=dead|archive-date=10 March 2009|title=Top US cybersecurity official quits|date=March 7, 2009|publisher=AFP Google|accessdate=2009-03-10}}</ref><ref name="nextgov resig">{{cite web|url=http://techinsider.nextgov.com/2009/03/cyber_an_nsa_not_a_dhs_thing.php|title=Cyber an NSA, Not a DHS, Thing|last=Holmes|first=Allan|date=2009-03-09|work=Tech insider|publisher=nextgov|accessdate=2009-03-10|archive-date=10 March 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090310223509/http://techinsider.nextgov.com/2009/03/cyber_an_nsa_not_a_dhs_thing.php|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref name="newsfactor resig">{{cite web|url=http://www.newsfactor.com/news/Federal-Cybersecurity-Chief-Resigns/story.xhtml?story_id=021000Q2J1ML&full_skip=1|title=Cybersecurity Chief Resigns Amid Power Struggle|last= Resende|first=Patricia |date=March 9, 2009<!-- 2:02PM-->|publisher=newsfactor.com|accessdate=2009-03-10}}</ref><ref name="Technewsworld resig">{{cite web|url=http://www.technewsworld.com/story/Political-Turf-Wars-Drive-Out-US-Cybersecurity-Chief-66431.html|title=Political Turf Wars Drive Out US Cybersecurity Chief|last=San Miguel|first=Renay |date=2009-03-09 |work=Security |publisher=TechNewsWorld |accessdate=2009-03-10}}</ref> He stated that he received $500,000 which funded five weeks of operation.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.forbes.com/2009/03/09/rod-beckstrom-security-technology-security-beckstrom.html|title=Top Cyber Official Sounds Off|last=Greenberg|first=Andy|date=2009-03-09|work=Cyber Security|publisher=Forbes|accessdate=2009-03-10|archiveurl=https://archive.today/20120918110243/http://www.forbes.com/2009/03/09/rod-beckstrom-security-technology-security-beckstrom.html|archivedate=2012-09-18|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref name="AP resign">{{cite web|url=https://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5jS0ZQTLpeZoyy1MtWIcs9dyHv_NAD96OSIBO0|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090310161337/http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5jS0ZQTLpeZoyy1MtWIcs9dyHv_NAD96OSIBO0|url-status=dead|archive-date=10 March 2009|title=Cybersecurity director resigns amid turf battles|last1=Baldor|first1=Lolita C.|last2=Sullivan|first2=Eileen|author-link2=Eileen Sullivan |date=March 7, 2009|publisher=[Associated Press](/source/Associated_Press) |accessdate=2009-03-10}}</ref> He has stated that he supports a more decentralized approach and opposes the NSA's move to try to "rule over" the NCSC.<ref name="newsfactor resig" /><ref name="Wired Blog4">{{cite web|url=http://blog.wired.com/27bstroke6/2009/03/outgoing-dhs-cy.html|title=Outgoing DHS Cyber Chief Expands on Why He Resigned|last= Zetter |first=Kim|date=March 9, 2009 |work=Cybersecurity |publisher=Wired Blog|accessdate=2009-03-10}}</ref>

==Presidency of ICANN==
thumb|Interview with Beckstrom on his time as CEO of ICANN|thumbtime=1:14 
On 25 June 2009, at its 35th meeting in Sydney, Australia, the Board of [ICANN](/source/ICANN) resolved to appoint Rod Beckstrom as its CEO and President.<ref name=icann>{{cite web|url=http://www.icann.org/en/announcements/release-26jun09-en.pdf|title=Internet Security Expert Named ICANN CEO|last= ICANN |date=June 26, 2009 |work=ICANN |publisher=ICANN|accessdate=2009-06-26}}</ref> At ICANN, he presided over a number of notable developments, including the 15 July 2010 [DNSSEC signing of the DNS root](/source/Domain_Name_System_Security_Extensions), and the 20 June 2011 opening of the [gTLD](/source/gTLD) namespace to additional applicants.<ref>{{Cite web|author=Murphy, Kevin|date=20 June 2011|url=https://www.theregister.co.uk/2011/06/20/icann_dot_everything/|title=World braces for domain name EXPLOSION, ICANN approves dot-everything|publisher=The Register|location=London|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110623065910/https://www.theregister.co.uk/2011/06/20/icann_dot_everything/|archivedate=23 June 2011|url-status=live}}</ref> On July 1, 2012, he was succeeded as CEO by ICANN's COO as CEO pro tem who served in that capacity until Beckstrom's permanent replacement [Fadi Chehade](/source/Fadi_Chehade) was able to take up his position on 1 October 2012.<ref name="Chehade">{{Cite news|author=Staff|date=22 June 2012|title=Icann hire Fadi Chehade as new chief executive|newspaper=BBC News|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-18553887}}</ref><ref name="Chehade2">{{Cite news|author=Jesdanun, Anick|date=23 June 2012|title=Internet group picks little-known executive as CEO|newspaper=The Austin Statesman|location=Austin, Texas|url=http://www.statesman.com/business/technology/internet-group-picks-little-known-executive-as-ceo-2402558.html|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120623163622/http://www.statesman.com/business/technology/internet-group-picks-little-known-executive-as-ceo-2402558.html|archivedate=23 June 2012}}</ref>

==Investor==
Rod Beckstrom is the lead [angel investor](/source/angel_investor) in the Encino, CA-based software development company American Legalnet Inc.<ref name="Rod Beckstrom's LinkedIn Profile">{{cite web|title=Rob Beckstrom's profile on LinkedIn|url=https://www.linkedin.com/in/beckstrom|website=LinkedIn.com|publisher=LinkedIn|ref=27}}</ref>{{Better source needed|reason=LinkedIn.com is questionable as a [reliable source](/source/WP%3ARS)|date=October 2016}}

==Volunteer work==
An active participant in the non-profit arena, Beckstrom serves on the board of trustees of [Environmental Defense Fund](/source/Environmental_Defense_Fund), an organization involved in designing, advocating and implementing environmental policy solutions, such as the [Kyoto Protocol](/source/Kyoto_Protocol) and the California Climate Act. He is also a trustee of Jamii Bora Trust, a micro-lending group with 170,000 members, based in Nairobi.{{Citation needed|date=October 2016}}

==References==
{{reflist|2}}

==External links==
* {{Official website|http://beckstrom.com/}}
* {{C-SPAN|1022626}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Beckstrom, Rod}}
Category:Living people
Category:American businesspeople in information technology
Category:American foreign policy writers
Category:American male non-fiction writers
Category:George W. Bush administration personnel
Category:1961 births

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Rod Beckstrom](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rod_Beckstrom) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rod_Beckstrom?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.