Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff has appointed Gregory Garcia to serve as the agency's first Assistant Secretary for Cybersecurity and Telecommunications.

Garcia joins the Department of Homeland  Security from the Information Technology Association of America, where he was Vice President for Information Security Policy and Programs. In that role, Garcia led the public debate on cybersecurity policy and national cyber readiness. He has worked closely with the department over the past few years in his role on the IT Sector Coordinating Council. He also worked with industry to found the National Cyber Security Partnership.

Garcia also helped to draft and enact the Cyber Security Research and Development Act of 2002 during his tenure with the U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Science. He also has worked to strengthen encryption control regulations during his tenure with the Americans for Computer Privacy. Garcia also was involved with the international trade and IT policy at the Americans Electronics Association.

"I am gratified that Greg will join the department as the first Assistant Secretary of Cyber Security and Telecommunications, and I look forward to his many contributions that will advance the important progress that has already been made in this area," Chertoff said in a statement.