Patrick Gallagher, 46, is the 14th director of NIST, part of the Commerce Department. He is taking office as Congress considers giving NIST more influence in developing cybersecurity standards. Among Gallagher’s early challenges could be a decision on where NIST’s cybersecurity research organization fits within the institute. Gallagher holds a Ph.D. in physics and joined NIST in 1993 to pursue research in neutron and X-tray instrumentation, and accompanying studies of technologically important “soft” materials such as polymers, liquids and gels.”]
Source: https://www.govinfosecurity.com/new-nist-director-faces-cybersecurity-decisions-a-1918