The U.S. Senate has confirmed Adam Cassady as the next U.S. ambassador for cyber and digital policy. The confirmation vote, held on Friday, was 51-47, as part of a larger package of over 70 nominees.
Cassady is the second individual to hold the ambassador-at-large position, which has been vacant since the first cyber diplomat departed at the beginning of the current administration. He previously served as a senior official at the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) and also held a role at the Federal Communications Commission (FCC).
His new role will involve leading the Bureau of Cyberspace and Digital Policy. This bureau underwent a significant reorganization last year, which included its division into three separate entities, one of which is the new Bureau of Emerging Threats. The reshuffle also resulted in a reduction of staff numbers for the bureau.
During his confirmation hearing in April, Cassady emphasized the importance of collaboration with "trusted partners who share our commitment to secure, resilient and open digital ecosystems." He was questioned on the issue of sending advanced semiconductor chips to China but stated he had not yet formed a definitive opinion on the matter, though he would quickly develop one if confirmed.
Cassady acknowledged the administration's goal to balance economic prosperity with national security considerations regarding such shipments. This comes after Jeffrey Kessler, Undersecretary of Commerce for Industry and Security, informed the House Foreign Affairs Committee last month that "very few" Nvidia H200 artificial intelligence chips had been shipped to China and Hong Kong, indicating ongoing shipments. Cassady indicated that if confirmed, he would delve deeply into this issue.
