Former U.S. cyber security chief Amit Yoran is the new president and CEO of
In-Q-Tel, the CIA’s independent venture capital arm.
Yoran, 35, took over the job last week, replacing Gilman Louie, who resigned
to start a new venture capital firm in the San Francisco Bay Area. Gilman
ran In-Q-Tel since its inception in 1999.
In-Q-Tel’s mission is to identify and invest in companies developing
technologies that serve American national security interests.
“In-Q-Tel is the critical link between emerging technology and the vital
national security demands of intelligence,” Yoran said in a statement. “Now
more than ever, we must deliver the tools that the men and women of the
intelligence community need to protect our country at home and around the
world.”
In 2003, Yoran was appointed as Director of the National Cyber Security
Division at the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, where he was
responsible for information sharing and managing national and global
initiatives to thwart computer network attacks.
In October 2004, Yoran resigned as the nation’s cyber security chief,
becoming the third person in two years to quit the post. Early in his
career, Yoran oversaw the Vulnerability Assessment Program within the
Computer Emergency Response Team at the Department of Defense.
A local Washington area entrepreneur, Yoran in 1998 co-founded Riptech, a
venture-backed network security firm. Four years later, Symantec bought
Tiptech for $145 million.
Following his stint in government, Yoran advised emerging security
technology companies and worked with larger firms to develop security
strategies.
“Amit’s lifetime experience — as an entrepreneur, a venture investor and
leader in commercial companies and national security — makes him the
perfect fit for our organization,” said Louie.
“His critical understanding
of key technologies and security needs will position In-Q-Tel to continue to
serve as a unique tool driving innovation across the broader intelligence
community.”
Since its founding, In-Q-Tel has engaged with nearly 90 companies and
delivered more than 100 technology solutions to the intelligence community.
