Patrick Howard
CISO from NRC and formerly HUD

The Nuclear Regulatory Commission recently established a Computer Security Office (CSO) for which Patrick D. Howard serves as the Chief Information Security Officer to lead.

Howard reports to the Deputy Executive Director for Information Services and Chief Information Officer, and serve as the focal point for information technology (IT) security. He provides vision, leadership, and oversight in developing, promulgating, and implementing an agency IT security strategy. This organizational change meets the Federal Information Security Management Act (FISMA) requirements as they relate to IT security.

The CSO has three core groups: 1) cyber situational awareness, analysis, and response team; 2) FISMA compliance and oversight team; and 3) the policy, standards and training team. The current Office of Information Services will remain intact with the exception of the IT security-related functions.

Howard has more than 35 years of experience in the security industry, and has worked in the computer security field for the past 16 years. Prior to joining the NRC, he worked as the Chief Information Security Officer at the Department of Housing and Urban Development, (HUD) where he managed HUD’s enterprise-wide IT security program. There he led HUD to a first ever “A+” score on Congress’ 2006 FISMA Report Card and was recognized as a 2007 Fed 100 winner for his accomplishments in government IT. Prior to joining HUD, Howard was employed by the Titan Corporation, supporting the Department of Transportation serving as the department’s certification and accreditation program manager.