Tech group hires House cyber guru

TechAmerica is bringing on a former House Homeland Security Committee staffer as its director of cybersecurity policy.  

Michael Spierto, who worked on the Cybersecurity, Infrastructure Protection and Security Technologies subcommittee, will help the organization as lawmakers continue to push for legislation to protect the country’s computer networks.

{mosads}“Cybersecurity is a worldwide challenge that spans across every industry and government sector,” Spierto said in a statement. “TechAmerica is on the forefront of this debate and I aim to build upon the organization’s proven record of success to development of new thresholds of achievement.”

TechAmerica has urged Congress not to enact an overly broad cybersecurity bill that could end up doing more harm that good by imposing extra mandates or requirements on companies. Instead, it has pushed for a way to allow companies and the government to better share information as well as a nationwide set of rules for alerting people after their information may have been compromised in a data beach.

“Cybersecurity is a top priority for our members and we are thrilled to have Michael joining the team with his wealth of knowledge of the technical needs of any policy and an expert perspective on the policy landscape,” said Mike Hettinger, the trade group’s senior vice president of public sector and federal government affairs, in a statement.

On Capitol Hill, Spierto ran hearings, coordinated outreach and worked on legislation to help protect critical infrastructure like financial and power networks in the U.S.

He previously worked in the personal office of Rep. Pat Meehan (R-Pa.), who chairs the cybersecurity subcommittee, and for Rep. Tim Murphy (R-Pa.).