National Archives and Records Administration News Release
May 13, 2002

J. William Leonard Appointed Director of
Information Security Oversight Office

Archivist of the United States John W. Carlin has announced the appointment of J. William Leonard as the new Director of the Information Security Oversight Office (ISOO). Leonard's appointment is effective on Monday, June 3.

ISOO is responsible to the President of the United States for policy oversight of the Government-wide security classification system and the National Industrial Security Program. ISOO receives its policy and program guidance from the National Security Council (NSC) and is an administrative component of the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA). More than 60 executive branch agencies create or handle classified national security information. In making the selection, Archivist John W. Carlin said, "With almost 30 years of federal service in the Defense Department, Mr. Leonard is a recognized authority on information, intelligence and industrial security policies and issues. His experience and expertise will serve ISOO and the interested communities in Government and the public and private sectors well in meeting the challenges ahead."

Leonard had recently resumed his position as Principal Director (Security and Information Operations) in the Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense (C3I) after having served as the Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense (Security and Information Operations) in the prior Administration. He is responsible for programmatic and technical issues relating to the DoD's information assurance, critical infrastructure protection, counterintelligence, security and information operations programs. Leonard has served as the DoD member to the Interagency Security Classification Appeals Panel since 1998.

Prior to coming to the staff of the Secretary of Defense in 1996 as Director of Security Programs, Leonard served as an Assistant Deputy Director at the Defense Investigative Service (DIS). In that capacity, he was responsible for a wide range of policy and operational matters pertaining to the DoD's administration of the National Industrial Security Program (NISP), both within the U.S. and overseas. Leonard was also instrumental in the establishment of the DIS Counterintelligence Office.

Leonard holds a Master of Arts degree in International Relations from Boston University and a Bachelor of Arts degree in History from St. John's University in New York City. He has received the DIS Exceptional Service Award (1987 and 1996), the DIS Meritorious Service Award (1989 and 1993), the Secretary of Defense Meritorious Civilian Service Award (2000) and the Department of Defense Distinguished Civilian Service Award (2001).

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For additional PRESS information, please contact the National Archives Public Affairs staff at (301) 837-1700 or by e-mail. Visit the National Archives Home Page on the World Wide Web at http://www.nara.gov.