Earl Crane

Earl Crane is the former Director for Federal Cybersecurity within the Cybersecurity Directorate of the National Security Staff. Dr. Crane’s portfolio includes federal information system security, cloud computing security, and coordinating the Administration’s federal information system cybersecurity priority capabilities.

Previously Dr. Crane was the Director of the Cybersecurity Strategy Division in the Office of the Chief Information Security Officer (OCISO) for the Department of Homeland Security. Dr. Crane is responsible for developing the DHS Information Security Strategic Plan, enabling the Department to provide a secure, reliable, and trusted computing environment to support DHS’ mission and objectives and effectively share information that protects the Homeland.

Dr. Crane is a frequent speaker on emerging government information security trends, including threats and technologies, and a contributing author of multiple books, including “SPECIAL OPS: Host and Network Security for Microsoft, UNIX and Oracle”. He is also an adjunct professor in the Carnegie Mellon University H. John Heinz III School of Public Policy & Management.

Dr. Crane successfully defended his PhD dissertation “Emergent Network Defense” from the Engineering Management and Systems Engineering (EMSE) School of Engineering and Applied Science (SEAS) at the George Washington University in 2012. He also earned a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering with a minor in Robotics and a Masters of Information System Management from Carnegie Mellon University, graduating with honors of “Highest Distinction”.