The District's new homeland security chief said he was worried about terrorist attacks and weather emergencies like snowmaggedon. But Christopher Geldart said preventing a cyber attack is one of his top five priorities.

He told the Associated Press that recent local and national exercises have revealed vulnerabilities in the region's cyber defenses.

Geldart, a former marine, worked as a regional coordinator for FEMA. and founded his own emergency management consulting firm. He succeeds Millicent West, who stepped down amid accusations that she was connected to former D.C. Councilmember Harry Thomas Jr., who pleaded guilty to embezzlement.

This story is part of Federal News Radio's daily Cybersecurity Update. For more cybersecurity news, click here.