Chris Krebs facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Chris Krebs
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| 1st Director of the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency | |
| In office November 16, 2018 – November 17, 2020 |
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| President | Donald Trump |
| Deputy | Matthew Travis |
| Preceded by | Position established |
| Succeeded by | Brandon Wales (acting) |
| Under Secretary of Homeland Security for the National Protection and Programs Directorate | |
| In office June 15, 2018 – November 15, 2018 Acting: July 24, 2017 – June 15, 2018 |
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| President | Donald Trump |
| Deputy | Matthew Travis |
| Preceded by | Suzanne Spaulding |
| Succeeded by | Position abolished |
| Assistant Secretary of Homeland Security for Infrastructure Protection | |
| In office August 1, 2017 – June 15, 2018 |
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| President | Donald Trump |
| Preceded by | Caitlin Durkovich |
| Succeeded by | Brian Harrell |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Christopher Cox Krebs
January 30, 1977 Atlanta, Georgia, U.S. |
| Education | University of Virginia (BA) George Mason University (JD) |
Christopher Cox Krebs (born in 1977) is an American lawyer. He was the first Director of the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA). This agency is part of the United States Department of Homeland Security. He served in this role from November 2018 until November 17, 2020. President Donald Trump removed Krebs from his job. This happened because Krebs disagreed with Trump's claims about election fraud in the 2020 United States presidential election.
Contents
Chris Krebs: Protecting Our Digital World
Early Life and Learning
Chris Krebs was born in Atlanta, Georgia, in 1977. He went to the University of Virginia. There, he earned a bachelor's degree in environmental sciences in 1999. Later, he studied law at the George Mason University School of Law. He received his law degree in 2007.
A Career in Cybersecurity
Krebs has spent his career working on cybersecurity and managing risks. Cybersecurity is about protecting computer systems and networks from digital attacks. He worked as an advisor for the Department of Homeland Security. After that, he worked for Microsoft. At Microsoft, he helped create cybersecurity policies.
In 2017, he became a senior advisor for the Secretary of Homeland Security. He then took on roles focused on protecting important national systems. In November 2018, a new agency was created called the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA). Krebs became its first director. CISA's job is to protect the nation's critical infrastructure. This includes things like power grids, water systems, and election systems.
Leading CISA
As CISA's director, Krebs was the top cybersecurity official. He was in charge of keeping the 2020 presidential election safe from cyber threats. He worked to make sure the election process was secure.
Standing Up for Election Security
Why He Was Fired
In November 2020, reports said that Krebs expected to lose his job. This was partly because he helped create a CISA website. This website was designed to correct false information about the election. Much of this false information was being spread by President Donald Trump and his supporters.
One claim was about a secret computer program that supposedly switched votes. Krebs said this claim was "nonsense" and a "hoax." On November 17, 2020, Krebs posted on social media. He said that "59 election security experts all agree" that claims of fraud were either unproven or didn't make sense.
President Trump fired Krebs later that same day. Trump said Krebs's statement about the election's security was "highly inaccurate." He claimed there were "massive improprieties and fraud." However, Trump did not provide any proof for these claims.
Speaking Out
After his dismissal, Krebs faced strong criticism and threats. One lawyer for the Trump campaign made very serious comments about him. Krebs responded by writing an article in The Washington Post. He said, "I am not going to be intimidated by these threats from telling the truth to the American people."
In December 2020, Krebs filed a lawsuit. He said he received many threats and was being harassed. He believed this was because of the false statements made about him. In January 2021, Krebs suggested that Trump should resign from the presidency. This was after the 2021 storming of the United States Capitol.
After Government Service
Helping Companies Stay Safe Online
After leaving CISA, Krebs started a new company in early 2021. He teamed up with Alex Stamos, a former cybersecurity chief for Facebook. Their company, Krebs Stamos Group, helps other businesses with cybersecurity. One of their first clients was SolarWinds, a company that had recently faced a major cyberattack.
Working for Responsible Social Media
In October 2022, Krebs joined a project called the Council for Responsible Social Media. This group was started by Issue One. Its goal is to deal with the negative effects of social media on people's mental health and public life in the United States.
See also
In Spanish: Christopher Krebs para niños
