The Department of Homeland Security has hired the former chairman of the Election Assistance Commission, Matt Masterson, to help federal, state, and local authorities coordinate cybersecurity efforts ahead of the 2018 midterm elections, the department announced Monday.
Masterson will serve as senior cybersecurity adviser within the National Protection and Programs Directorate’s Office of Cybersecurity and Communications.
“There are few who have Matt’s experience working with all levels of government and the private sector to protect our nation’s election systems. His wealth of experience and depth of knowledge make him highly respected on both sides of the aisle,” Chris Krebs, NPPD senior official performing the duties of the undersecretary, said in a statement.
Krebs added that Masterson’s previous work as chief information officer in the Ohio secretary of state’s office and at the EAC “significantly advanced” the country’s cybersecurity efforts.
The hire comes a week after DHS Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen was criticized by Democrats in the Senate Intelligence Committee hearing for not doing enough to help states and localities to protect critical infrastructure after a recent report that Russians tried to attend a Democratic convention in Texas.
In 2016, Russian agents attempted to break into 21 state election systems and officials worry they will try even harder to interfere in this year, including through bot accounts on social media.
