Senate confirms Harry Coker Jr. as national cyber director

The Senate confirmed Harry Coker Jr. as the new national cyber director.

The Office of the National Cyber Director was established in 2021 to coordinate cybersecurity across the federal government in light of emerging challenges from states such as China and Russia. Coker, confirmed in a 59-40 vote, served as director of the National Security Agency during the Trump administration from 2017 to 2019.

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“Harry Coker is an accomplished leader and a dedicated public servant who is well qualified to lead this important office,” Sen. Gary Peters (D-MI) said in support of Coker. “Mr. Coker has over four decades of national security and cybersecurity experience. He served as a naval officer and in senior leadership roles at the National Security Agency and the Central Intelligence Agency, where he worked to combat cyber and national security threats.”

“His nomination received bipartisan support from the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Government Affairs, and he has been endorsed by a wide range of bipartisan cyber and national security experts,” he continued. “During the two years since the Office of the National Cyber Director was created, the office has done impressive work, including developing an ambitious national cybersecurity strategy and national cyber workforce and education strategy.”

Peters also bemoaned the previous absence of a cyber director, stressing its importance to national security.

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“The Office of the National Cyber Director has been without a confirmed leader for almost 10 months. A dedicated Senate-confirmed leader is critical to building upon these efforts and continuing to grow and mature the Office of the National Cyber Director,” he said.

Coker is the second national cyber director, his predecessor leaving the post in February.