Grenell announces new intel ‘cyber exec’

Acting Director of National Intelligence (DNI) Richard Grenell on Friday announced the creation of an intelligence community (IC) “cyber executive” as part of other organizational changes.

According to the Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI), the new position will “provide a single ODNI focus point for the cyber mission, which will strengthen the IC’s cyber posture to better defend U.S. national security interests.”

Consolidation: The cyber executive position will oversee four consolidated, previously separate ODNI cyber-focused organizations.

The ODNI did not immediately respond to The Hill’s request for comment on which four organizations would be combined, or whether an individual had been selected to fill the position.

The creation of the cyber executive post comes after more than a year of staff and leadership review of organizational changes, according to the ODNI.

Other changes announced by Grenell on Friday included the establishment of the “Director’s Advisor for Military Affairs” position. This individual will serve as Grenell’s principal adviser for defense issues, and is intended to boost the ODNI’s efforts to collaborate with the Department of Defense.

The changes will also eliminate the ODNI’s Directorate of National Security Partnerships and transfer its functions to other ODNI offices. The group was tasked with coordinating IC and defense intelligence operations, among other duties.