CUI Program Blog

The Archivist of the United States Dr. Colleen Shogan, with the approval of the President, has appointed Michael D. Thomas as the Director of the Information Security Oversight Office (ISOO), effective November 3, 2024.

Mr. Thomas most recently served as the Director for Access Management for White House National Security Council (NSC). Prior to joining the NSC in July 2023, he held a series of leadership roles at the Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI), including Chief of Strategic Communications within the Office of Public Affairs and Deputy Chief Transparency Officer within the Office of Civil Liberties, Privacy, and Transparency. 

On behalf of the ODNI, Mr. Thomas oversaw digital strategy and transparency efforts, coordinating these activities for more than a decade across the Intelligence Community. This included the creation of “Bin Laden’s Bookshelf,” which made publicly available for the first time material recovered during the Osama bin Laden raid, and developing the “Evolution of Espionage in America” online museum in collaboration with the National Counterintelligence and Security Center. Mr. Thomas also worked closely with NARA and the NSC to shepherd the release of records for the Argentina Declassification Project, which was widely hailed as the first instance of “declassification diplomacy.”

During his ODNI tenure, Mr. Thomas established and led the IC’s Community of Practice for Social Media, providing guidance and support for emerging social media initiatives. From 2017 to 2023, Mr. Thomas chaired the Intelligence Transparency Council, an interagency body focused on streamlining the release of information in the public interest. Mr. Thomas was also responsible for shepherding the first-ever Intelligence Community commitments in a U.S. National Action Plan for Open Government and the creation of Intelligence.gov as the new digital front door for the IC focused on greater transparency. 

Mr. Thomas began his career at NARA in 1998 as an archives technician before departing for the private sector, where he worked as an investigative researcher on behalf of private clients as well as in the public interest. He then worked with a series of start-ups, including two ranked among Inc. Magazine’s annual list of the 500 fastest growing companies in America. Mr. Thomas is a graduate of the George Washington University.

ISOO looks forward to Michael’s leadership and contributions in overseeing our government’s security classification system and other vital information management programs!

ISOO is hiring for an Associate Director (GS-0343-15) position. The announcement opening period runs from 5/24/24 to 6/4/24. Click on the link below to access the vacancy announcement.
https://www.usajobs.gov/job/792704600

There are 3 vacancies for Program Analyst (GS-0343-12/13) positions. The announcement opening period is 01/05/2024 to 01/16/2024.

Click on the link below to access the vacancy announcement(s).

https://www.usajobs.gov/job/768371800 (Government wide)

https://www.usajobs.gov/job/768370200 (Public)

There are 3 vacancies for Program Analyst (GS-0343 -12/13) positions. The announcement opening period is 11/17/2023 to 12/07/2023.  

Click on the link below to access the vacancy announcement(s).

https://www.usajobs.gov/job/761396000 (Government wide)

https://www.usajobs.gov/job/761396700 (Public)

The Archivist of the United States, Dr. Colleen Shogan, has appointed William P. Fischer, to serve as Acting Director of the Information Security Oversight Office (ISOO), until a permanent hire is made following the retirement of ISOO Director Mark Bradley on June 30, 2023. Mr. Bradley had served as ISOO Director since his appointment by the President in 2016.

Mr. Fischer will continue to serve as the Director of the National Declassification Center (NDC) at the National Archives and Records Administration, the position to which he was appointed in February 2019. Prior to his appointment as the NDC Director, Mr. Fischer served in a number of positions at the Department of State involving records management, declassification, and other information access programs, including the Deputy Director of the Office of Information Programs and Services. Prior to joining the Department of State in 2008, Mr. Fischer served in a variety of archival roles at NARA from 1998 to 2008.

ISOO is responsible to the President for policy and oversight of the government-wide security classification system under Executive Order 13526, the National Industrial Security Program under Executive Order 12829, as amended, and the Controlled Unclassified Information Program under Executive Order 13556. As the Acting Director of ISOO, Mr. Fischer serves as the Executive Secretary of the Interagency Security Classification Appeals Panel and the Public Interest Declassification Board, and as the Chairman of the National Industrial Security Program Policy Advisory Committee, the State, Local, Tribal, and Private Sector Policy Advisory Committee, and the Controlled Unclassified Information Advisory Council.

Today, ISOO published its FY 2022 Annual Report to the President. Each year, ISOO reports to the President on the implementation of the Classified National Security Information (CNSI) and Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI) programs, following requirements in Executive Orders 13526 and 13556. These Reports summarize ISOO’s oversight activities and make key recommendations that seek to improve the effectiveness of how our Government manages and protects this information.

On September 7, 2022, ISOO issued CUI Notice 2022-01. This notice provides Executive Agent guidance with respect to the White House National Security Council (NSC) Memorandum, “Initiating a Process to Review Information Management and Classification Policies, dated June 2, 2022.