WASHINGTON — Auburn University’s McCrary Institute for Cyber and Critical Infrastructure Security added two new leaders to its advisory board, including the sixth Homeland Security secretary.
The institute recently announced that Kirstjen Nielsen, who served as the Homeland Security secretary during the first Trump administration, will become a board member. Nielsen is the current president of Lighthouse Strategies.
Auburn alumnus and former U.S. Air Force intelligence leader James Hoskins also joined the board. Hoskins also served as the CEO of Scitor Corporation, a national intelligence contractor, which was acquired by SAIC.
“Bringing on these renowned leaders in homeland and national security will only further our ability to help the McCrary Institute have a meaningful impact on our nation,” Lt. Gen. Ronald L. Burgess Jr., McCrary Institute Advisory Board chairman and former director of the U.S. Defense Intelligence Agency, said in a statement.
The McCrary Institute focuses on crafting cybersecurity strategies and priorities to protect the nation’s infrastructure.
“I am deeply honored to join the board of the McCrary Institute, a dynamic and mission-driven institution that not only leads in cybersecurity innovation and education but also stands as a national resource, shaping the future of policy, research and resilience,” Nielsen said in a statement.
The new board members will join 13 others, including corporate executives, senior government officials and Auburn University leadership.
“The cybersecurity mission of the McCrary Institute is national in scope and priority,” Hoskins said in a statement. “America’s future is in great hands considering the capabilities, personnel and facilities that have been assembled by McCrary with the aim to make a landmark difference.”
The institute works closely with federal agencies and Congress to advise and shape public policy. Research teams in Auburn and Huntsville develop and deploy cybersecurity solutions to bolster infrastructure in the Southeast and across the country.
“(Nielsen and Hoskins) bring deep experience in national security, cybersecurity and public service — adding invaluable perspective to an already exceptional group,” Frank Cilluffo, McCrary Institute director, said in a statement. “Their advice and counsel will help us strengthen our efforts to protect the critical infrastructure that underpins our nation’s security, economy and communities.”