Biographical Information
J. Michael Daniel, President, Cyber Threat Alliance

Michael Daniel
Michael Daniel currently serves as the President of the Cyber Threat Alliance (CTA). CTA works to
improve the cybersecurity of our global digital ecosystem by enabling real-time, high-quality cyber
threat information sharing among companies and organizations in the cybersecurity field. Its
members currently include nine of the largest cybersecurity firms in the world. Michael has been
with CTA since February 2017.
Prior to CTA, Michael served as Special Assistant to the President and Cybersecurity Coordinator on
the National Security Council Staff. He held this position from June 2012 to January 2017. In this
role, Michael led the development of national cybersecurity strategy and policy, and he oversaw
implementation of those policies. Michael also ensured that the federal government effectively
partnered with the private sector, non-governmental organizations, other branches and levels of
government, and other nations.
In this role, Michael focused on executing a three-part cyber strategy: raising the level of our cyber
defenses in the public and private sectors over both the short and the long-term; deterring and
disrupting malicious cyber activity aimed at the U.S. or its allies; and, improving our ability to
respond to and recover from cyber incidents when they occur. During his time in this position,
Michael helped develop over half a dozen Presidential guidance documents and worked with
Congressional members and staff to pass cybersecurity legislation. He chaired three interagency
policy groups, such as the Cyber Response Group. Michael regularly interacted with private
industry across multiple sectors and state and local governments in order to convey White House
priorities, receive feedback, and promote public-private cooperation and collaboration. Michael
played a lead role in crafting the government’s response to cyber incidents, such the attack on Sony
Pictures Entertainment, the intrusion into the Office of Personnel Management, and the Russian
efforts to meddle in our electoral process. He played an integral role in driving the integration of
cyber capabilities into the broader set of capabilities that can be brought to bear to achieve our
strategic interests. Michael also had extensive international engagement in this role, helping to
negotiate the cyber commitments with China and implementing the cyber confidence building
measures with Russia; he also met with allies and partners on a regular basis, both in DC and
abroad, in order to drive greater coordination on cybersecurity policy and operations.
Prior to coming to the National Security Council Staff, Michael served for 17 years with the Office of
Management and Budget (OMB). From September 2001 to June 2012, he served as the Chief of the
Intelligence Branch, National Security Division, in a career Senior Executive Service position. This
branch oversees the Intelligence Community (IC) and other classified Department of Defense
programs. In this position, Michael played a key role in shaping intelligence budgets, improving the
management of the IC, and resolving major IC policy issues. Within OMB, Michael also served as an
examiner in the National Security Division’s Front Office supporting the Deputy Associate Director
and in the Operations branch reviewing Navy and Marine Corps operational activities and overseas
military operations such as Bosnia and Kosovo.

Biographical Information
J. Michael Daniel, President, Cyber Threat Alliance

Originally from Atlanta, Michael received a Bachelor’s in Public Policy from the Woodrow Wilson
School at Princeton University. Subsequently, he obtained a Master’s in Public Policy from the
Kennedy School of Government at Harvard with a focus on International Affairs and Security.
Michael also obtained a Master of Science in National Resource Strategy from the National Defense
University’s Industrial College of the Armed Forces in 2001.
Outside of work, Michael and his wife Karen are raising two rambunctious boys, James and Joshua.
For over 10 years, Michael worked with a non-profit called Hands on DC, which works to improve
DC public schools and provide college scholarships for DC public school students. Michael attends
St. Margaret’s Episcopal Church in Washington DC and studies martial arts in the Chishin Ryu style
with Dai Nippon Botoku Kai, a Norfolk-based karate association.