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by Dave Gradijan

Verizon Taps FBI Criminal Division Chief as CSO

News
Sep 12, 20071 min
Build AutomationCSO and CISO

The executive in charge of the U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation’s criminal investigations division will take over as chief security officer (CSO) of Verizon Communications Inc. early next year.

Michael Mason, head of the FBI’s Criminal, Cyber, Response and Services Branch, will become Verizon’s CSO in January 2007, the company said Tuesday. He replaces Jim Trainor, who will retire from the telecommunications giant.

A 22-year FBI veteran, Mason oversees the largest branch of the FBI and is the executive responsible for the federal law enforcement organization’s criminal, corruption, civil-rights, and cyber-crime investigations.

Mason will be in charge of Verizon’s overall security efforts, including physical security and cyber security within the company. He will report to Bill Barr, Verizon’s executive vice president and general counsel.

With more than 62 million customers and nearly 240,000 employees, Verizon is one of the largest carriers in the U.S.

By Robert McMillan, IDG News Service (San Francisco Bureau)