Harry Coker Jr. testifies during his confirmation hearing to be National Cyber Director before the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee on Nov. 2, 2023. (Photo by Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images)
Gov. Wes Moore (D) announced late Friday that he’ll nominate Harry Coker Jr., a former high-ranking federal official, intelligence officer and retired Navy commander, to be the state’s next secretary of Commerce.
Coker’s appointment suggests that Moore plans to double down on his long-held contention that Maryland should be aggressively expanding its cybersecurity and technology industries.
Coker would replace Kevin Anderson, who has held the job since early in the Moore administration. Anderson will transition to a position as an economic development adviser to the governor.
The Moore administration did not offer a reason for the switch. Coker will become acting secretary on Feb. 5 as he awaits confirmation from the state Senate.
“At the heart of our economic growth agenda is a commitment to investing in industries of the future — from cyber to quantum,” Moore said in a statement. “Harry Coker understands that mission and brings a wealth of experience working on the leading edge of the very sectors Maryland stands to win.”
Coker most recently served as the United States National Cyber Director from 2023-2025, serving as principal adviser to former President Joe Biden on cybersecurity strategy and policy. The Moore administration said that in that position, Coker worked on cyberspace policy; implemented the National Cybersecurity Strategy; developed a robust cyber workforce; advanced cyber regulations; and built the federal Sector Risk Management Agency in addition to state, local, tribal and territorial cybersecurity capability and capacity.
After serving nearly 20 years as a naval officer, retiring in 2000 with the rank of commander, Coker joined the CIA, spending 17 years in leadership posts in the agency’s Directorate for Digital Innovation and Directorate of Science and Technology. In addition, he served as the agency’s director of the Open Source Enterprise and deputy director of the CIA’s Office of Public Affairs.
From 2017-2019, Coker served as executive director of the National Security Agency — the agency’s third-highest ranking post — and was responsible for supporting the strategic and day-to-day leadership of the NSA.
In between government service, Coker served on boards and as an outside adviser to several companies, including JSI Telecom, Microsoft and Ocstasic. He has also been the president of the Central Intelligence Retirees Association and on the board of directors for the U.S. Naval Academy Foundation, the U.S. Navy Memorial, and Dog Tag Inc.
Coker is a graduate of the United States Naval Academy, the Naval Postgraduate School and Georgetown University Law Center.
Anderson ran Cardinal Atlantic Holdings, an economic and community development firm he founded, before becoming Commerce secretary. Previously, he was an aide to former Washington, D.C., Mayor Anthony Williams (D).
In a news release, the Moore administration credited Anderson for overseeing a modernization of agency functions and personnel at the Department of Commerce; developing a 10-year economic strategic plan; and promoting cross-agency and cross-sector collaboration to strengthen Maryland’s business climate and ecosystem.
“Our entire administration is grateful for Kevin Anderson’s distinguished service and we look forward to this new chapter at the Maryland Department of Commerce under Harry Coker’s leadership,” Moore said.
In a memo circulated to Commerce Department staffers on Friday afternoon, Anderson wrote, “I am so very grateful for the tremendous opportunity to serve as Maryland’s Commerce Secretary for the past two years. I have been endlessly impressed with the work our agency does for the state and its economy.”
– Reporter Bryan P. Sears contributed to this report.