Nitin Natarajan serves as the Deputy Director for the Department of Homeland Security’s Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) as of February 16, 2021. In this role, he supports the CISA Director overseeing the Cybersecurity Division, the Infrastructure Security Division, the National Risk Management Center, and the Emergency Communications Division. His operational support responsibilities are to ensure a holistic approach to critical infrastructure protection across physical and cyber risks activities.
Prior to joining CISA in February 2021, Natarajan served as an executive at a consulting firm providing subject matter expertise on a variety of topics, including IT, cybersecurity, homeland and national security, critical infrastructure protection, environmental emergency management, continuity of operations, and health security matters. Natarajan also held a number federal government roles including serving as the Deputy Assistant Administrator for the Office of Land and Emergency Management at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the Director of Critical Infrastructure Policy at the White House/National Security Council, and as the Director at U.S. Health and Human Services overseeing their critical infrastructure, continuity of operations (COOP), and medical logistics programs. He also has experience working at the state and local government levels.
Natarajan started his career spending 13 years as a first responder in New York including service as a flight paramedic. He was the Commander of a federal medical response team, based in New York, and has extensive experience deploying to natural and man-made disasters throughout the nation.
He holds an undergraduate degree from the State University of New York and a graduate degree from the United States Naval Postgraduate School.