A White House official tells Fox that cyber security adviser Melissa Hathaway leave her post on August 21,2009.
The White House, through spokesman Nick Shapiro, denies her departure will complicate the already slow process of appointing a cybersecurity coordinator (the WH doesn't call it a czar). It's been 2 months since President Obama announced his intention to name the coordinator/czar and Hathaway's departure is related to frustration over the delay.
Hathaway has been on detail to the National Security Staff from the Office of the Director of National Intelligence. Her initial assignment was up on 9 April and her second detail goes through 9 August. She will stay in her current assignment of Acting Senior Director for Cyberspace until August 21st.
"We are grateful for her dedicated service and for the significant progress she and her team have made on our national cybersecurity strategy," Shapiro said. "Cybersecurity is a major priority for the President which is why shortly after taking office he directed his National Security Council and Homeland Security Council to conduct a top-to-bottom review of the federal government's efforts to defend our information and communications infrastructure and to recommend the best way to secure these networks and our prosperity. The White House released the report and announced the creation of a cyber security coordinator who will have direct access to the President and that the Obama administration is pursuing a new comprehensive approach to securing America's digital infrastructure. The President is personally committed to finding the right person for this job, and a rigorous selection process is well underway."
