J.C. Penney Co. Inc. has elected Deborah Plunkett, former senior adviser to the director of the U.S. National Security Agency, to its board.
The company noted that that Colleen Barrett, president emeritus of Southwest Airlines Co., will retire from the board at the end of her term, which concludes May 19 at the company’s annual shareholder’s meeting. Barrett joined Penney’s board in 2004 and currently chairs the corporate governance committee.
Plunkett, who has extensive experience in cybersecurity, information assurance and innovation in information security, most recently served as a professor at the University of Maryland University College, teaching graduate-level cybersecurity courses. She also consults on cybersecurity, information assurance and management topics at her firm, Plunkett Associates LLC. Before that, she was a senior adviser to the director of the NSA, before which she was director and deputy director of information assurance for the NSA. She has also served as a director for the Office of Transnational Threats at the National Security Council of the White House.
Plunkett currently serves as a strategic advisory board member for the International Consortium for Minority Cybersecurity Professionals and an advisory board member for CyberMaryland.
“Deborah has a strong background in information management and technology and has been trusted by some of the nation’s top leaders to deliver robust security solutions and policies for the U.S. government,” said Marvin R. Ellison, chairman and chief executive officer of Penney’s.