HADESTY NAMED ASSOCIATE CHIEF INFORMATION OFFICER FOR CYBER-SECURITY AT USDA
                                                               
                                  Mike Alexander (202) 720-0044
                                        mike.alexander@usda.gov


HADESTY NAMED ASSOCIATE CHIEF INFORMATION OFFICER FOR CYBER-SECURITY AT USDA
                                
WASHINGTON, Feb. 17, 2000--William Hadesty, former director of security standards and evaluation at
the Internal Revenue Service, has been named associate chief information officer for cyber-security at the U.S.
Department of Agriculture.  Hadesty will be responsible for developing and implementing USDA's comprehensive
cyber-security program. 

"The Department of Agriculture is fortunate that Bill Hadesty has accepted this executive position," Joe
Leo, USDA's Chief Information Officer, said.  "His appointment is a major step forward in our efforts to strengthen
USDA's capacity to protect the security of the data and financial assets we manage as well as the privacy of our
customers.  Bill's mission is to work together with our agency CIO's and security personnel to build a top flight
security program at USDA."

At the Internal Revenue Service, Hadesty had oversight responsibility for all security (physical, personnel,
communications, and cyber-security) for IRS's 106,000 employees at 1167 facilities.  In addition to oversight
responsibilities, Hadesty was responsible for disaster recovery planning as well as developing a sensitive systems
certification process.  

From 1987 to 1997, Hadesty held positions as a senior computer specialist, technical assistant director, and
technical director at the General Accounting Office, where he led comprehensive security reviews at numerous
government agencies, including USDA, the Department of Defense, and financial market entities.  Recognized as a
security expert in both the public and private sectors, Hadesty holds a bachelor of science degree in accounting with
a minor in engineering from the University of Maryland, and has completed graduate work in computer science and
telecommunications.

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