Drenan Dudley, the deputy national cyber director (NCD) for strategy and budget, has been chosen to lead the White House’s Office of the National Cyber Director (ONCD) in an acting capacity upon the departure of Acting NCD Kemba Walden today.
Dudley’s appointment to the temporary position comes days after the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee favorably reported Biden’s pick for NCD – Harry Coker – to the full Senate on a vote of 9-6.
“I’m honored to be asked by the President to lead my colleagues as the Acting National Cyber Director. I look forward to continuing to implement the National Cybersecurity Strategy and supporting this administration’s continued efforts towards building a secure and resilient cyberspace that is aligned with our values,” Dudley said in a statement.
“The hard work taking place across this organization will continue apace while we await Mr. Coker’s confirmation,” she added. “I, along with all of my colleagues, am grateful to Acting Director Walden for her leadership and wish her well in her next endeavor.”
Dudley presently serves as the deputy NCD for strategy and budget. In this role she works with ONCD leadership to establish strategy and budget priorities for the office and lead engagement on these matters with the White House and interagency counterparts.
She also previously served at ONCD as the assistant NCD for budget review and assessment where she identified obstacles to meeting resourcing needs, planned for future cyber resources, and assessed the performance of cyber programs in achieving their intended effect.
Her work at ONCD is done in partnership with the Office of Management and Budget and Executive Office of the President Councils, as well as Federal, state, local, tribal and territorial partners, and the private sector.
It is not clear how long Dudley will have to lead ONCD in an acting capacity.
While the full Senate has not yet scheduled Coker’s nomination vote, Sen. Angus King, I-Maine, said Thursday he is calling on Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., to bring Harry Coker’s nomination to the floor as soon as possible. The senator told reporters he wants Coker’s nomination to be the “first order of business” when the full Senate comes back into session on Monday, Nov. 27.
