Chris Cleary, the Department of the Navy’s chief information security officer (CISO), has been selected as the department’s principal cyber advisor (PCA).

In his new role, Cleary will work in close coordination with the DON CIO, the DoD PCA, and the DoD CIO.

According to an official announcement, he will also assume responsibility for advising the SECNAV, the ASN (RD&A), the Chief of Naval Operations, the Commandant of the Marine Corps, and appropriate senior military officers.

He will also be responsible for implementing the DoD’s Cyber Strategy within the DON by coordinating and overseeing the execution of the DON’s policies and programs.

Cleary is a Naval Academy graduate and retired Naval Reserve Officer who served 16 of 24 years on active duty in a variety of leadership roles.

He has held several leadership positions in the private sector, and has been the DON Chief Information Security Officer for the past year.

The position of PCA is mandated by the National Defense Authorization Act of FY2020.