DHS CIO Staropoli resigns after 3 months

Richard Staropoli, the CIO of the Department of Homeland Security appointed by President Donald Trump, has resigned, FedScoop has learned.

Trump appointed Staropoli to the position in April.

News of Staropoli’s resignation comes days after John Kelly, formerly DHS secretary, was appointed White House chief of staff to replace Reince Priebus. At the department, Staropoli reported directly to Kelly.

Staropoli took the position — vacated by Luke McCormack in January and held by Jeanne Etzel in the interim — after serving most recently as managing director and chief information security officer of Fortress Investment Group, a billion-dollar hedge fund in New York City.

Staropoli spoke at FedTalks at Night of his intentions to run DHS’s Office of the CIO like a hedge fund.

He also spent more than two decades with the Secret Service as a special agent, during which he worked with the Presidential Protective Division, as leader of the Counter Assault Team and as the chief of polygraph operations.

Staropoli’s resignation will take effect Sept. 1. Deputy CIO Steve Rice will serve as acting CIO beginning then until the president appoints a replacement.