The Information Technology Association of America is calling for the appointment of a "cyber czar" in the wake of the resignations of key White House cybersecurity advisors

The Information Technology Association of America (ITAA) is calling for the appointment of a "cyber czar" in the wake of the resignations of key White House cybersecurity advisors Howard Schmidt and Richard Clarke. The corporate IT trade group says the issues of cybersecurity are different from physical security, and the ITAA is concerned that no single high ranking Bush Administration official has primary responsibility for the nation's cybersecurity. According to a number of published reports, Schmidt e-mailed on Monday an "informal letter of resignation" to his colleagues, announcing his intention to quit the administration by the end of April. His resignation follows the February departure of Richard Clarke, who served as chairman of the President's Critical Infrastructure Protection Board. When Clarke announced his resignation, the White House said it would abolish the board and move its responsibilities to the New Department of Homeland Security, which is consolidating five different federal cybersecurity offices. Although the board was eliminated, Schmidt, Microsoft's former chief of security, remained at the White House.