Howard A. Schmidt has had a long distinguished career in defense, law enforcement, and corporate security spanning more than 40 years. He brings together talents in business, defense, intelligence, law enforcement, privacy, academia and international relations through his distinguished career. He served as Special Assistant to the President and the Cybersecurity Coordinator for the federal government. In this role Mr. Schmidt was responsible for coordinating interagency cybersecurity policy development and implementation and for coordinating engagement with federal, state, local, international, and private sector cybersecurity partners.
Previously, Mr. Schmidt was the President and CEO of the Information Security Forum (ISF). Before ISF, he served as Vice President and Chief Information Security Officer and Chief Security Strategist for eBay Inc., and formerly operated as the Chief Security Officer for Microsoft Corp. He also served as Chief Security Strategist for the US-CERT Partners Program for the Department of Homeland Security.
Mr. Schmidt also bring to bear over 26 years of military service. Beginning active duty with the Air Force, he later joined the Arizona Air National Guard. With the AF he served in a number of military and civilian roles culminating as Supervisory Special Agent with the Office of Special Investigations (AFOSI). He finished his last 12 years as an Army Reserve Special Agent with Criminal Investigation Division’s (CID) Computer Crime Unit, all while serving over a decade as police officer with the Chandler Police Department.
Mr. Schmidt holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration (BSBA) and a master’s degree in organizational management (MAOM) from the University of Phoenix. He also holds an Honorary Doctorate degree in Humane Letters. Howard was an Adjunct Professor at GA Tech, GTISC, Professor of Research at Idaho State University and Adjunct Distinguished Fellow with Carnegie Mellon’s CyLab and a Distinguished Fellow of the Ponemon Privacy Institute.
Howard is a Ham Radio operator (W7HAS), a private pilot, outdoorsman and an avid Harley-Davidson rider. He is married to Raemarie J. Schmidt, a forensic scientist and researcher and instructor in the field of computer forensics. Together, they are proud parents, and happy grandparents.
Howard A. Schmidt's Posts
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Building Cybersecurity Capability in the Electricity Sector
May 25, 2012 at 12:19 PM EDTA new initiative will help ensure our electricity grid is secure and resilient against cyber threats.
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Partnership Developments in Cybersecurity
May 21, 2012 at 2:17 PM EDTThe White House Cybersecurity Coordinator reports on the progress made on meaningful ways to secure our nation’s critical infrastructure
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Federal Departments and Agencies focus Cybersecurity Activity on three Administration Priorities
March 23, 2012 at 12:02 PM EDTFederal Departments and Agencies need to focus their cybersecurity activity on the most effective controls, which the U.S. Cybersecurity Coordinator has identified as "trusted iInternet connections, continuous monitoring, and strong authentication"
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Legislation to Address the Growing Danger of Cyber-Threats
January 26, 2012 at 1:27 PM EDTThe Administration's Head of Cybersecurity, Howard A. Schmidt, details proposed legislation to strengthen our national and economic security needs
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Obama Administration Responds to We the People Petitions on SOPA and Online Piracy
January 14, 2012 at 9:09 AM EDTThe White House has responded to two petitions about proposed legislation intended to combat online piracy.
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Protecting the Nation’s Electric Grid from Cyber Threats
January 9, 2012 at 4:58 PM EDTA new White House initiative will develop a model to help identify how secure the electric grid is from cyber threats, and test that model with participating utilities
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Advancing the National Strategy for Trusted Identities in Cyberspace: Government as Early Adopter
October 14, 2011 at 5:32 PM EDTNew rules allow the Federal government to streamline the customer experience and recognize real cost savings just when we need to be tightening our belts
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National Cybersecurity Awareness Month
October 3, 2011 at 12:52 PM EDTThe White House Cybersecurity Coordinator says this is a fitting time to reflect on how far we have come and how far we still need to go to secure this nation in cyberspace
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Launching the U.S. International Strategy for Cyberspace
May 16, 2011 at 3:46 PM EDTHoward Schmidt, the White House Cybersecurity Coordinator, announces the United States’ first, comprehensive International Strategy for Cyberspace.
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The Administration Unveils its Cybersecurity Legislative Proposal
May 12, 2011 at 2:00 PM EDTHoward A. Schmidt, Cybersecurity Coordinator and Special Assistant to the President, discusses the cybersecurity legislative proposal just transmitted to Capitol Hill.
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