DoD Appoints Army Col. Laurie Buckhout (Ret.) to Cyber Defense Policy Position

In an effort to continue its resilient cyber posture, the Pentagon has announced the newest addition to its cyber team.

“Ms. Laurie Buckhout has been appointed as the Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense [DASD] for Cyber Policy,” a defense official told SIGNAL Media in an email.

According to the Department of Defense (DoD) website, the DASD for cyber policy “establishes and oversees the implementation of DoD cyberspace policy and strategy. Integrates national cyberspace policy and guidance with DoD cyberspace policy. Provides guidance and oversight on DoD cyberspace activities as they relate to foreign cyberspace threats, international cooperation, engagement with foreign partners and international organizations, and implementation of DoD cyberspace strategy and plans, including those related to cyberspace forces, capabilities, and their employment.”

The position was previously held by Mieke Eoyang, the defense official stated.

Buckhout, a retired U.S. Army colonel, spent more than 25 years in military service, including a 2003 task force assignment in Iraq.

Upon her retirement from the military 2010, she founded Corvus Consulting, which specializes in electronic warfare and cyberspace operations. In 2019, Buckhout sold her company to Castellum Inc. A subject matter expert in her field, Buckhout has also been a speaker and presenter at various AFCEA International events.

More recently, Buckhout ran as a Republican candidate for Congress in North Carolina’s first district. In November 2024, she conceded the race to Democratic representative Don Davis.

DASD positions do not require Senate confirmation.

The news was first reported by The Daily Advance.