Strayer Joins State as DAS for Cyber, International Telecom Policy Issues
Rob Strayer started work earlier this week as deputy assistant secretary of state-cybersecurity and international communications and information policy, and U.S. coordinator for international communications (CIC) and information policy, as expected (see 1708220059), the Computer & Communications Industry Association and…
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two communications sector lobbyists separately confirmed. Strayer entered the role with foreign policy experience via his previous role as legislative director and general counsel to Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman Bob Corker, R-Tenn., and cyber policy experience in a past role as director of the Bipartisan Policy Center’s Homeland Security Project. Strayer's appointment to an expanded DAS role appears to confirm earlier concerns that State's Office of Coordinator for Cyber Issues could be absorbed into another departmental office (see 1708030009), one industry lobbyist said. Strayer's expanded role gives him authority over cyber and international telecom policy issues, but it's unclear whether the cyber issues office was absorbed into the CIC office, a lobbyist said. The White House, State and Corker's office didn't comment. Strayer acknowledged his move to State in a Monday tweet, but didn't disclose his role. Strayer moved to State without any formal White House announcement because President Donald Trump's administration is “still working through” whether to also nominate him at the level of an ambassador, as other presidents have done in naming past CICs, a telecom lobbyist said. The CIC role doesn't require Senate approval but all ambassadors go through the nominations process via Senate Foreign Relations. Nomination of the CIC as a U.S. ambassador can be important since the person in that role often has led the U.S. delegation to ITU conferences, the telecom lobbyist said. Strayer's appointment “is strategically important to ensure the U.S. has a strong voice at the table as key negotiations take place on issues from trade to tech policy, which impact the growth of the fastest growing sector of the U.S. economy at home and abroad,” said CCIA President Ed Black. “Given the importance of his portfolio, we hope that the Deputy Assistant Secretary receives an Ambassadorship to aid him in advocating.”