Navy announces new top cyber adviser

Anne Marie Schumann was sworn in Monday as the second-ever principal cyber adviser for the Department of the Navy, according to an announcement.

The role had been vacant since Chris Cleary, the inaugural adviser, left in November following the conclusion of his three-year term.

Congress mandated in the 2020 defense policy bill that each service create a principal cyber adviser to provide insights on recruitment, training and readiness of cyber forces and acquisition of offensive and defensive cyber capabilities, among others.

Schumann will serve as the top adviser on all cyber matters to the secretary of the Navy, chief of naval operations and commandant of the Marine Corps. Previously, she served as the senior cyber threat adviser to the director for command, control, communications and computers/cyber and chief information officer on the Joint Staff, J6.

Cleary, in his role, helped shepherd the department’s cyber strategy, which sought to raise the profile of cyber and place greater importance on its role in conflict and military operations.

The principal cyber adviser also works closely with the CIO, responsible mostly for the IT issues.

“I am honored to serve the DON as the new PCA,” Schumann said in a statement. “I plan to uphold the mission to drive excellence in the DON’s cyber resiliency and warfighting efforts to enable and strengthen maritime dominance in an evolving digital landscape.”