The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) is set to welcome a new director as former Department of Energy and National Security Council cybersecurity official, Sean Plankey, has been nominated by U.S. President Donald Trump to take the helm. This nomination comes as the agency has been without a director since Jen Easterly stepped down on January 20, 2025, the last day of former President Joe Biden’s term in office.
Sean Plankey, a National Guard and Coast Guard veteran, has a wealth of experience in the cybersecurity field. During Trump’s first term, Plankey served as the principal deputy assistant secretary for the Energy Department’s Office of Cybersecurity, Energy Security, and Emergency Response. In this role, he played a key part in engaging the energy sector in efforts to enhance cyber preparedness, recognizing the critical importance of securing the nation’s energy infrastructure against cyber threats.
In addition to his role at the Department of Energy, Plankey also served as the director for maritime and Pacific cybersecurity policy at the National Security Council. Here, he co-authored the National Maritime Cybersecurity Plan and was involved in drafting multiple presidential directives related to offensive cybersecurity operations. Plankey’s extensive background also includes serving as the global cyber intelligence advisor for BP and as the deputy chief information officer for U.S. Navy Intelligence.
Plankey’s nomination signals a continued focus on strengthening the nation’s cybersecurity posture, particularly within the critical infrastructure sector. With the majority of U.S. energy infrastructure privately owned, the government has been working to collaborate with industry partners to enhance security measures and promote information sharing. Plankey has emphasized the importance of integrating security across the sector and building resilience in the energy supply chain, particularly as many components are sourced from overseas manufacturers.
In his previous roles outside of the public sector, Plankey has continued to make significant contributions to the cybersecurity industry. He has served as the general manager for post-quantum encryption document protection platform Indigo Vault, led go-to-market efforts for container and hypervisor security vendor BedRock Systems, and contributed to DataRobot’s utilization of AI cloud technology to address cybersecurity challenges.
Looking ahead, Plankey’s nomination highlights the ongoing efforts to bolster the nation’s cybersecurity defenses and ensure the resilience of critical infrastructure against evolving cyber threats. As his nomination moves before the Senate Homeland Security and Government Affairs Committee for consideration, there is optimism surrounding his potential to lead CISA in its mission to safeguard civilian networks and strengthen public-private partnerships in cybersecurity.