Melissa Hathaway was named the Acting Senior Director for Cyberspace for the National Security and Homeland Security Councils in February 2009. She was placed as head of a 60-day interagency review of the plan for cyber security throughout the government. Just recently Hathaway has returned to the private sector.
Hathaway served as the Senior Advisor to the Director of National Intelligence and Cyber Coordination Executive. She also chaired the National Cyber Study Group and while she was there she contributed to the development of the Comprehensive National Cybersecurity Initiative. Additionally, in 2008, Ms. Hathaway was appointed the Director of Joint Interagency Cyber Task Force.
Prior to her work there, Hathaway specialized in cybersecurity strategies with the consulting firm Booz Allen Hamilton. She was previously employed by another consulting firm, Evidence Based Research, where she worked on developing models for detection of cocaine movement in the U.S.
Hathaway graduated from American University in Washington D.C. with a Business Administration Degree. She continued her education at the US Armed Forces Staff College and received a special certificate in Information Operations.