Schaffer, who joined DHS in June 2009, worked with public and private sector organizations to prepare for and respond to cyber incidents affecting the US critical infrastructure. He is taking a position in the private sector, according to Federal News Radio.
Schaffer is the sixth high-ranking cyber executive to leave DHS in less than a year; his departure completes a virtual turnover of the cyber staff at the National Protection and Programs Directorate (NPPD), which oversees the agency's cybersecurity efforts.
Other cybersecurity officials who have left the agency since June are Sean McGurk, head of the National Cybersecurity and Communications Integration Center (NCCIC); Randy Vickers, director of US Computer Emergency Response Team (US-CERT); Phil Reitinger, deputy undersecretary of the NPPD; Nicole Dean, director of the National Cyber Security Division (NCSD); and Rear Admiral Mike Brown, director of cybersecurity coordination at NPPD. NCCIC, US-CERT, and NCSD come under the Office of Cybersecurity and Communications, which is part of NPPD.
By the way, if anyone is interested in applying, DHS is looking to hire a new US-CERT director. Act fast, the deadline is March 7.