JD Work, a former intelligence official and cyber strategy expert, is set to join the National Security Council’s cyber team, according to a recent article. Work, who has spent decades in the intelligence community, academia, and cybersecurity policy circles, brings deep expertise in cyber intelligence, conflict strategy, and national security to his new role.
Work most recently served as a professor at the National Defense University’s College of Information and Cyberspace, where he specialized in cyber intelligence, threat analysis, and strategy. He has also been a Research Scholar and Adjunct Associate Professor at Columbia University, contributing to advanced research on cyber conflict, security operations, and intelligence analysis.
Prior to his academic tenure, Work was the Distinguished Fellow and Bren Chair of Cyber Conflict and Security at Marine Corps University from 2018 to 2021, where he played a role in shaping cyber warfare doctrine and training military leaders on emerging cyber threats. He also served as a Senior Advisor to the U.S. Cyberspace Solarium Commission, which was responsible for developing national cybersecurity policy recommendations for the U.S. government.
Work spent nearly two decades in intelligence operations, serving in both government and private sector roles from 1999 to 2018. His background in cyber threat intelligence, military cyber operations, and national security strategy has made him a sought-after voice in policymaking and cyber defense initiatives.
His academic credentials include a Ph.D. in Politics and International Studies from the University of Warwick and studies in Intelligence at Mercyhurst University, a well-known institution for intelligence and security analysis training.
As Work transitions into his new role at the National Security Council, he is expected to play a key part in coordinating federal cybersecurity strategy, addressing national cyber threats, and advising on cyber policy and intelligence operations. His appointment comes at a time when cybersecurity remains a top priority for the U.S. government, with ongoing challenges related to state-sponsored cyber threats, ransomware attacks, and critical infrastructure vulnerabilities.
