Washington — A new Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Cyber and International Communications and Information Policy began work this week at the State Department. Rob Strayer will help advocate for sound technology policy and for the growth of the digital economy with several international governing organizations.
Strayer comes from the Senate Foreign Relations Committee where he was hired as general counsel for Sen. Corker, R-Tenn., in 2012. He served as deputy staff director of the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee from 2006 to 2011 and focused on counterterrorism.
CCIA has previously advocated for this and other important vacancies to be filled so the U.S. has experienced and knowledgeable voices advocating on behalf of the digital economy at key international institutions and intergovernmental organizations, including the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) under the United Nations, the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), as well as among economic groups, such as the Group of Seven (G7) and the Group of 20 (G20) ministerials on digital issues.
The following can be attributed to CCIA President & CEO Ed Black:
“It 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. We are glad to see Strayer taking on this role as digital issues increasingly appear in a variety of international fora, accompanied by growing pressure to restrict commerce and communication online.
“As the primary external representative for the United States’ technology policy, Strayer will coordinate the engagement and positions of a range of economic and diplomatic agencies to advocate a platform that promotes innovation and emerging technologies. Given the importance of his portfolio, we hope that the Deputy Assistant Secretary receives an Ambassadorship to aid him in advocating on behalf of the digital economy.”