Stakeholders see opportunity for Trump NCD nominee Cairncross to leverage connections

Former White House officials are cautiously optimistic over President Trump’s selection of Sean Cairncross as the next national cyber director, while recognizing that the role is expected to change significantly by picking a nominee from outside the cybersecurity community.

Cairncross will bring “political juice” to the role that goes beyond ONCD’s statutory authority which is limited, according to Jake Braun, who served as acting principal deputy NCD. Braun said, “Having someone with political juice at the helm will be beneficial.”...