Washington: Indian-American Anita M Singh, who previously worked at the White House on cyber-related issues, has been appointed the Chief of Staff and Counselor in the National Security Division of the US Justice Department. As NSD's Chief of Staff, Singh will focus on strategic management issues including the design of structural changes to support work in emerging threat areas, according to a statement from the Justice Department. Singh served as NSD's Acting Chief of Staff for nearly one and a half year. She joined NSD as a Deputy Chief of Staff in 2011 after serving as Director for Intelligence Programs and Reform at the White House on the National Security Council staff, where she focused on cyber-related issues.

Singh began her legal career through the Department of Justice's Honors Program, serving in the Criminal Division's Computer Crime and Intellectual Property Section, and later as a Counsel, focused on cybersecurity, to several Assistant Attorneys General. Prior to entering government service, Singh was a management strategy consultant with the Boston Consulting Group. She graduated from the University of Pennsylvania Law School. Singh's appointment is part of the restructuring of the NSD, announced by John Carlin, Assistant Attorney General for National Security. The restructuring is designed to put additional focus on the protection of national assets from the threat of state-sponsored economic espionage and proliferation, including through cyberspace, and also to empower US attorneys as they conduct outreach on these issues nationwide.

"The threat landscape we face is ever-changing and evolving, and while our top priority will always be combating terrorism, we must also sharpen our focus and increase our attention on the emerging threats of economic espionage and proliferation," said Assistant Attorney General Carlin. "We have assembled a talented, dedicated and experienced team of seasoned professionals to launch this new phase for the National Security Division. "These changes will help us continue confronting today's threats while readying the NSD workforce to engage what we see as the key emerging threats to our national security," Carlin said.