WASHINGTON (CNN) -- A former White House official with a long history in law enforcement and computer security matters was named Tuesday as White House Cybersecurity Coordinator, the White House said.

The appointment of Howard Schmidt by President Barack Obama was announced electronically.

"The very e-mail you are reading underscores our dependence on information technologies in this digital age, which is why it seemed like a fitting way to announce that the president has chosen Howard Schmidt to be the White House Cybersecurity Coordinator," said an e-mail from John Brennan, assistant to the president for Homeland Security and Counterterrorism.

Schmidt will be responsible for orchestrating the many important cybersecurity activities across the government, Brennan said. "He will have regular access to the president and serve as a member of his National Security Staff and work closely with his economic team to ensure that our cybersecurity efforts keep the Nation secure and prosperous," Brennan said.

The White House statement said Schmidt is one of the world's leading authorities on computer security with more than 40 years experience in government, business and law enforcement.

Schmidt joined the Air Force in 1967 and retired from public service in 2003 after serving as a cybersecurity adviser for President George W. Bush. He has also served as information security chief for software giant Microsoft and for the auction Web site eBay, and spent time with the FBI at the National Drug Intelligence Center.

Schmidt is also president of the Information Security Forum, an international group that searches for the best practices for online security, and president and CEO of R & H Security Consulting, which he founded in 2005.