Bahamian Kemba Eneas Walden was appointed a top post in the Biden administration serving as principal deputy national cyber director.
Walden, a former assistant general counsel at Microsoft where she was responsible for launching and leading its Digital Crimes Unit’s Ransomware Program, joins three new hires in the administration.
Walden is also the daughter of veteran nephrologist Dr Judson Frazier Eneas who became the Bahamas’ fifth COVID-19 related death.
The White House announced on Tuesday that it is expanding its cyber policy office.
“As we continue to build this new office, the additions of Kemba, Neal, and Rob will accelerate our efforts to protect Americans in cyberspace,” said National Cyber Director Chris Inglis. “Each of these leaders brings impressive experience in cybersecurity policymaking to our team, and their diverse perspectives will be invaluable as we strengthen our collective defense.”
- Principal Deputy National Cyber Director Kemba Eneas Walden is an attorney with extensive experience in government and the private sector.
- She comes to ONCD from Microsoft, where she served as an Assistant General Counsel in Microsoft’s Digital Crimes Unit (DCU) responsible for launching and leading DCU’s Ransomware Program.
- Prior to joining Microsoft, Kemba spent a decade in government service at the Department of Homeland Security, most recently at the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency.
- She was appointed to the Cyber Safety Review Board and holds a J.D. from the Georgetown University Law Center, Master’s in Public Affairs from Princeton University, and B.A. from Hampton University.
Why it matters
Walden represents diversity in the Biden administration and will become one of the highest-ranking black officials since the industry grapples with a lack of diversity.
The big picture
The United States is facing increasing criminal and state-backed cyber threats to its infrastructure. And officials continue to be wary of potential Russian hacking threats to US organizations stemming from the war in Ukraine.