Washington, D.C. (AHN) - Melissa Hathaway, a top candidate for the post of cyber czar created by President Barack Obama in May, has stepped down as cyber security chief at the National Security Council, according to reports.

Hathaway, who was part of the Bush administration's Comprehensive National Cybersecurity Initiative as chairperson of the National Cyber Study Group, had led a 60-day review of the federal government's cyber security by the National Security Council (NSC) and Homeland Security Council shortly after Obama assumed office.

She resigned on Monday, announcing her decision in interviews with the Wall Street Journal and the Washington Post.

In one interview, she openly expressed her unwillingness to continue to wait if she is appointed as cyber czar, a post the President created following the recommendation of her interagency review to "appoint a cybersecurity policy official responsible for coordinating the Nation's cybersecurity policies and activities."