Verizon taps FBI official as security chief

Verizon Communications Inc. has named Michael Mason, a key FBI cybersecurity official, as the company's new chief security officer effective January 2008.

Mason is executive assistant director of the FBI in charge of the Criminal, Cyber, Response and Services Branch, the bureau's largest unit. He will replace Jim Trainor, who will retire from Verizon at the end of the year.

Mason will report to Bill Barr, executive vice president and general counsel at Verizon, and oversee global security efforts throughout Verizon and all its business units. His mandate will include enterprisewide security strategy and programs, physical security, cyber security and law-enforcement security matters.

Mason joined the FBI in 1985 after four years as an officer in the Marine Corps. He served in numerous management and executive positions, including assistant director in charge of the FBI Washington field office and acting executive assistant director of headquarters administration. Most recently, he supervised the Criminal and Cyber divisions, the Office of International Operations, which includes 59 overseas offices, the FBI's Critical Incident Response Group and the Office of Law Enforcement Coordination.

Mason will be based at Verizon headquarters in Basking Ridge, N.J.

Verizon Communications ranks No. 19 on Washington Technology's 2007 Top 100 list of the largest federal government prime contractors.