John Fitzpatrick, the director of the Information Security Oversight Office (ISOO) at the National Archives and Record Administration (NARA) has moved to lead records and information security management at the National Security Council (NSC), beginning Jan. 11, according to a NARA employee notice.
Davis Ferriero, Archivist of the United States, explained Fitzpatrick will serve as the senior director for records access and information security management in the NSC, according to the Federation of American Scientist’s Project on Government Secrecy, which first reported the development.
In the new position, Fitzpatrick will assist the Executive Office of the President with federal information security policies for classified and controlled unclassified information, the National Industrial Security Program, and other related security efforts. He will also direct the NSC staff who preserve, safeguard, review, and release NSC records under the Freedom of Information Act automatic declassification process.
Ferriero highlighted Fitzpatrick will keep a connection with ISOO, working with NARA, the National Declassification Center (NDC), and the Presidential Materials Staff “to ensure awareness and integration of their efforts with Administration priorities.”
“This is a unique opportunity in Government that clearly aligns with his background, and I wish John the very best of luck in his new role,” Ferriero said.
The ISOO is responsible to the President for policy and oversight of government—wide security classification system and the National Industrial Security System.
At ISOO Fitzpatrick served as the executive agent for the government-wide Controlled Unclassified Program (CUI), an effort to restructure how agencies label and managed unclassified sensitive information through new regulation. He also served as executive secretary of the Public Interest Declassification Board, which makes recommendations to the President for improvements in the U.S. classification system.
Fitzpatrick also served on the President’s 120-Day Review of security clearance and suitability programs following the Washington Navy Yard shooting and on the administration’s 90-day review team examining the future of federal background investigation capabilities after the OPM data breaches.
William Cira, associate director of ISOO for classification management, will serve as Acting Director for ISOO until NARA finds a permanent hire.