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NSA boss linked to security outfit

by on20 October 2014



No conflict there

The National Security Agency’s chief technology officer is now moonlighting for his former boss at his lucrative cybersecurity business venture. Patrick Dowd continues to work as a senior NSA official while also working part time for Keith Alexander’s IronNet Cybersecurity.

Alexander currently charges firms up to $1 million a month on protecting their data from hackers. Given those hackers are likely to be NSA officials. It is rare for a US official to be allowed to work for a private, for-profit company in a field intimately related to his or her public function, but then it is also strange that no one appears to have blinked an eyelid that Alexander had investments in lots of security companies. Apparently, this time NSA is a little concerned and is reviewing the business deal.

The NSA has long been criticised for its close corporate ties. One long-serving official, William Black Jr, left the agency for Science Applications International Corporation, before returning in 2000 as deputy director. While Black was in his senior position, SAIC won an NSA contract to develop a data-mining programme, called Trailblazer that was never implemented, and cost more than a $1bn. 

 

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