The White House announced on Tuesday the appointment of former eBay Chief Security Strategist Howard Schmidt to the post, after six month of President Barack Obama pledged to appoint a cybersecurity advisor.He will also work closely with his economic team to ensure that our cybersecurity efforts keep the nation secure and prosperous.

In 1967, Schmidt joined the Air Force and served in a variety of capacities until 1983, when he joined the police force in Chandler, Arizona, according to an online biography. In 1994, he served as a computer-forensics investigator for the FBI's Drug Intelligence Center and has served in similar capacities for the U.S. Air Force and the U.S. Army Reserves. He subsequently spent five years at Microsoft as the chief security strategist, leaving to join the Bush administration as Special Advisor to the President for Cybersecurity in 2001. He returned to the private sector in 2003, joining eBay as chief security strategist.

Since leaving eBay in 2005, Schmidt has worked in a number of different posts, including at the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.

The President was personally involved in the selection of Mr. Schmidt, and that he will have regular and direct access to the President for cybersecurity issues.

Clarke is the chairwoman of the House Committee on Homeland Security's Subcommittee on Emerging Threats, Cybersecurity and Science and Technology, which legislates many cybersecurity issues.

In May, the president released a review of the nation's cybersecurity policies and established the post of Cybersecurity Coordinator. Since then, numerous security professionals had refused the post.