The National Archives and Records Administration's head of information security has moved to Pennsylvania Ave. to bring his records management expertise to the White House.
Starting Jan. 11, John Fitzpatrick took on a new role as senior director for records access and information security management on the National Security Council, part of the Executive Office of the President.
During his four years as director of NARA's Information Security Oversight Office, Fitzpatrick led development of the new controlled unclassified information regulation, restructuring how agencies label and manage sensitive information.
Fitzpatrick will be translating that experience to the NSC, advising the president on information security policy and heading the National Industrial Security Program. He will also coordinate communication between the White House and NARA.
His point of contact at NARA will be ISOO Associate Director for Classified Management William Cira, who will serve as acting director until a permanent replacement is named, according to a staff memo from Archivist of the United States David Ferriero.
"As a NARA employee, John was particularly taken with the opportunity to work in an environment surrounded by the historical records and artifacts of our nation," Ferriero said. "He is fond of saying he found his 'inner archivist' while working with, and acknowledging the expertise of, NARA's exceptional workforce."
Aaron Boyd is an awarding-winning journalist currently serving as editor of Federal Times — a Washington, D.C. institution covering federal workforce and contracting for more than 50 years — and Fifth Domain — a news and information hub focused on cybersecurity and cyberwar from a civilian, military and international perspective.
