President Donald Trump has nominated Sean Cairncross, who is chief counsel at the Republican National Committee (RNC), to become the next national cyber director (NCD), the White House announced on Wednesday.
Cairncross, if confirmed to the position by the Senate, would lead the Office of the National Cyber Director (ONCD), which is responsible for advising the president on cybersecurity policy and strategy. ONCD was established in 2021 under the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) following a recommendation from the Cyberspace Solarium Commission (CSC) for Congress to create an NCD position.
The nominee lacks some of the experience that the first two national cyber directors brought to the job – both came to the role after serving at the National Security Agency (NSA). Chris Inglis, the first NCD, served as deputy director of NSA, and Harry Coker who followed Inglis was the NSA executive director.
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