Schmidt, who also was an administration adviser for former President George W. Bush, will be responsible for coordinating military and civilian resources.  Furthermore, the latest member of Obama's cabinet will communicate regularly with Obama, and will also work with the president's economic group.

President Obama first announced the creation of the cyber czar position in late May, but said there wouldn't be a rush to appoint someone.  Schmidt will work with the National Security Council, not the National Economic Council, as this is the first time a person has been appointed as cybersecurity adviser.

In the previous administration, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the National Security Agency (NSA) were involved in a power struggle that led to ineffective cyber security.

The problem was so serious, in fact, Rod Beckstrom, former National Cybersecurity Center head, resigned due to the power struggle between the DHS and NSA.

Cybersecurity has been a pressing matter for Obama's administration, as the threat of foreign-based cyber attacks has grown significantly.  There have been numerous candidates considered for the job -- ranging from former Silicon Valley executives to a candidate who reportedly wasn't a fan of privacy -- with wide speculation among journalists.