DHS Names Replacement for Deputy CIO Beth Cappello

The Department of Homeland Security is getting a new deputy chief information officer after Beth Cappello, a past POC speaker, announced her retirement effective Mar. 9.

In an internal email, DHS Chief Information Officer Eric Hysen announced that Rear Adm. Christopher Bartz, also a past POC speaker, will take over the role to be vacated by Cappello. He will start working on Feb. 5 to ensure a smooth transition.

Bartz is the incumbent CIO and assistant commandant for command, control, communications, computers and information technology at the U.S. Coast Guard, Federal News Network reported.

Hysen said Bartz is the perfect person for the role as he has a wide range of cybersecurity backgrounds, having served as the director of training and exercises at the U.S. Cyber Command and the Coast Guard CIO.

Bartz has helmed several projects while serving as CIO at USCYBERCOM. He was crucial in launching the Persistent Cyber Training Environment, a component of the Joint Cyber Warfighting Architecture that allows for rapid sharing of data and content.

Cappello’s retirement comes after over 30 years of working for the federal government. She has been the DHS’ deputy CIO since August 2019.