By Megan Sayles
AFRO Staff Writer
msayles@afro.com

Governor Wes Moore announced Harry Coker Jr. as the new secretary of the Maryland Department of Commerce on Jan. 27. He follows Kevin Anderson who is taking on a new role as the governor’s senior adviser on economic development. 

Harry Coker Jr., former U.S. national director for cyber, is the new secretary for Maryland’s Department of Commerce. He succeeds Kevin Anderson who will go on to serve as Governor Wes Moore’s senior adviser on economic development.

Credit: Photo courtesy of the Maryland Department of Commerce

Coker, who most recently served as the national cyber director for the U.S., will assume the role on Feb. 5. 

“Universally and across the board, he is seen and regarded as one of America’s most respected leaders in defense, in intelligence and in cybersecurity,” said Moore “Presidents, members of congress, military leaders and also the private sector have all leaned on him and have benefitted from his expertise, his experience and also from his sound judgement.” 

Moore released his economic growth agenda for the state on Jan. 14, emphasizing the need for Maryland to tap into and leverage its assets in life science, information technology and aerospace and defense. His appointment of Coker furthers this aim. 

“At a time when Maryland is ready to make big bets on industries of the future, it is a very big deal to have Harry Coker helping to lead us there,” Moore continued. “This is somebody who is deeply invested in Maryland’s future because this is somebody who is deeply connected to Maryland’s present.” 

A graduate of the United States Naval Academy, Coker was appointed by President Joe Biden to act as the national cyber director in 2023. In the role, his top agenda items included bolstering federal alignment and coordination in cyberspace, executing the nation’s cybersecurity strategy, growing the cyber workforce and enhancing regulatory consistency in cyber. 

Prior to this work, Coker spent two years leading the U.S. National Security Agency (NSA) and 17 years in leadership positions at the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), focusing on digital innovation, science and technology. He served as a naval officer for nearly two decades and retired as a commander from the branch in 2000. 

During the announcement, Coker said that his experiences in cyber and intelligence have demonstrated the vital importance of a competitive economy, thriving innovation ecosystem and talented workforce to national security. 

“Here in Maryland, we have strategic assets that are the envy of states and nations. They position our great state to not only be a national leader of key industries and sectors, but to be a global hub of industries of the future. With a thoughtful economic strategy in hand and with the ambitious economic growth agenda that Governor Moore has laid out— from his executive actions, to his unprecedented $750 million budget investment in economic and workforce development and the DECADE Act– Maryland is poised to lead the nation and, indeed, lead the world.” 

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