The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency has appointed Chris Butera as acting executive assistant director of its cybersecurity division, NextGov/FCW reported Tuesday. He replaces Nick Andersen, who has stepped in as acting director of CISA following Madhu Gottumukkala’s appointment as director of strategic implementation at the Department of Homeland Security.
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Who Is Chris Butera?
Butera has more than 20 years of experience in cybersecurity and information technology leadership across federal and local government and the private sector. Most recently, he served as senior technical director for CISA’s cybersecurity division, where he led initiatives to enhance cyber services, strengthen operational visibility and guide research and development related to artificial intelligence and industrial control systems security.
He also held the roles of associate director of threat hunting, deputy director of the National Cybersecurity and Communications Integration Center and chief of the NCCIC Hunt and Incident Response Team at CISA.
Butera holds a bachelor’s degree in computer science from the University of Notre Dame and a master’s degree in computer science from the University of Chicago.
What Other Leadership Shifts Are Happening at CISA?
Robert Costello, chief information officer at CISA, also announced that he is departing federal service. In a LinkedIn post Tuesday, Costello said the week marks his last at the agency after 23 years in government, including 18 years at the Department of Homeland Security.
“DHS safeguards the American people every day, often without recognition. I have seen firsthand the dedication across the Department and will always be grateful to have been part of that mission for 18 years,” he wrote.
Costello’s announcement comes shortly after reports confirmed that Shelly Hartsook, acting associate director of CISA’s cybersecurity division, will also depart the agency. Hartsook oversaw capacity-building efforts across the division, including programs that deliver cybersecurity capabilities to federal agencies such as the Continuous Diagnostics and Mitigation program.
CISA has also been without a permanent leader since the departure of Jen Easterly, a three-time Wash100 winner, in 2025. President Donald Trump renominated Sean Plankey, former director for cyber policy at the National Security Council, to lead the agency in January.
