Obama names Bush adviser for cyber post

WASHINGTON, Dec. 22 (UPI) -- U.S. President Barack Obama Tuesday named as his cybersecurity coordinator a cyber adviser from President George W. Bush's administration.

"The very e-mail you are reading underscores our dependence on information technologies in this digital age, which is why it seemed like a fitting way to announce that the President has chosen Howard Schmidt to be the White House Cybersecurity Coordinator," read an e-mail from John O. Brennan, presidential assistant for homeland security and counterterrorism. "Howard will have the important responsibility of orchestrating the many important cybersecurity activities across the government."

Schmidt has more than 40 years' experience in government, business and law enforcement, Brennan said in the message posted on the White House Web site.

Schmidt was special adviser for cyberspace security from 2001-2003 and helped usher in the National Strategy to Secure Cyberspace. He now is president of the Information Security Forum, a non-profit group of corporations and public sector organizations focused on cybersecurity issues.

Brennan said Schmidt will be a "key member" of the national security staff.

"He will also work closely with his economic team to ensure that our cybersecurity efforts keep the nation secure and prosperous," Brennan said.