Ari Schwartz
Prior to joining Venable, Ari was a member of the White House National Security Council, where he served as special assistant to the president and senior director for cybersecurity. As director, Ari coordinated all network defense cybersecurity policy, including critical infrastructure protection, federal network protection, supply-chain efforts, cybersecurity standards promotion, and information sharing. He led the White House's legislative and policy outreach to businesses, trade groups, academics, and civil liberties groups on cybersecurity and developed new policies and legislation, including development of the Executive Orders on the Security of Consumer Financial Protection, Cybersecurity Information Sharing, and Sanctions Against Individuals Engaging in Malicious Cyber-Enabled Activities. Ari also led the successful White House rollout of the Cybersecurity Framework and the White House Cybersecurity Summit held at Stanford University.
Ari also served in the Department of Commerce, where he advised the secretary on technology policy matters related to the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA), and the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO). He led the department's Internet Policy Task Force and represented the Obama administration on major Internet policy issues on privacy and security before Congress, at public events, and before the media.
Ari began his career in Washington at OMB Watch. For twelve years, he worked at the Center for Democracy and Technology, including serving as vice president and chief operating officer, and developing legislation and policy related to privacy, cybersecurity, and open government.
Related Practices
Related Industries
Experience
Government Experience
- Senior Internet Policy Advisor, National Institute of Standards and Technology, Department of Commerce
- Senior Policy Advisor, Office of the Secretary, Department of Commerce
Insights
Credentials
Professional Memberships and Activities
- Expert advisor, U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Data Privacy and Integrity Advisory Committee, Subgroup on Cybersecurity, 2009 - 2011
- Member, U.S. Information Security and Privacy Advisory Board, 2008 - 2010
- Member, State of Ohio Privacy Advisory Committee, 2007 - 2009
- Member, Advisory Panel, MacArthur Foundation and NCVC, Technology as a Community Engagement Tool for Crime Prevention, 2006
- Member, Consumer Advisory Board, Microsoft Corporation, 2005 - 2009
- Secretary, board of directors, Harvard University Berkman Center, StopBadware.org Project, 2005 - 2010
- Member, Department of Transportation, Negotiated Rulemaking Advisory Committee on Minimum Standards for Driver's Licenses and Personal Identification Cards, 2005
- Member, Technical Advisory Committee, Online Sexual Assault Hotline, 2004 - 2007
- Chair, CFP2002, 12th Annual Computer Freedom and Privacy Conference, 2002
- Member, Maryland Committee on Access to Court Records, 2001
- Co-chair, Congressional Internet Caucus Advisory Committee E-Government Task Force, 2000 - 2007
- Member, Advisory Committee, World Wide Web Consortium, 1999 - 2001
Recognition
- Legal 500, Media, Technology and Telecoms – Cyber Law (including data privacy and data protection), 2016, 2018, 2020
- FCW, Federal 100 (Top executives from government, industry, and academia who had the greatest impact on government information policy over the past year) 2003, 2015
- Government Executive, Emerging Leader, 2011
- POLITICO, Emerging Tech Leader, 2011
- Online Trust Alliance, Excellence in Public Policy Award, 2010
- Secure Computing Magazine, Top 5 Most Influential IT Security Thinkers, 2007
- RSA Conference, Excellence in Public Policy Award, 2006