Dive Brief:

• President Barack Obama announced 10 appointments to the new Commission on Enhancing National Cybersecurity earlier this week. 
• The panel includes executives from Uber, Microsoft and MasterCard as well as the former director of the National Security Agency, Keith Alexander. Alexander was also the first commander of the U.S. Cyber Command. 
• The White House has been working to include more private sector experts in its efforts to improve federal cybersecurity.

Dive Insight:

In February, Obama requested $19 billion for federal cybersecurity initiatives, including the new panel. The funding requested funding would support a "broad-based cybersecurity strategy" to help secure the government, critical infrastructure and "important technologies."

"I have charged the Commission on Enhancing National Cybersecurity with the critically-important task of identifying the steps that our nation must take to ensure our cybersecurity in an increasingly digital world," Obama said in a statement. "These dedicated individuals bring a wealth of experience and talent to this important role, and I look forward to receiving the Commission's recommendations."

Some of those named to the new panel include Uber chief security officer Joe Sullivan; MasterCard CEO Ajay Banga; and Peter Lee, corporate vice president for Microsoft Research.

The federal government has worked to involve the private sector in helping resolve cybersecurity issues. In early March, Defense Secretary Ashton Carter visited tech companies in Silicon Valley and Seattle as part of ongoing efforts to recruit their help in federal cybersecurity efforts. Some U.S. authorities have encouraged threat intelligence information sharing between the private companies and the federal government.