Strengthening National Security at OpenAI

OpenAI has appointed Thomas Lind, former head of AI policy at the White House Office of the National Cyber Director (ONCD), to lead its cyber and strategic risk efforts. This move underscores the company’s commitment to addressing national security challenges posed by increasingly powerful AI systems.

Experience in Cybersecurity Policy

Lind served at ONCD from April 2025 to June 2026, most recently as head of policy and senior advisor to the director. His expertise spans AI policy, cybersecurity risk mitigation, and strategic planning—areas critical to responsible AI development.

Expanding OpenAI’s National Security Team

The appointment comes as OpenAI continues to build out its national security policy team under the leadership of Sasha Baker, former deputy undersecretary of defense for policy. Baker noted that Lind’s addition represents a significant investment in addressing emerging risks and ensuring AI benefits national interests.

Heightened Regulatory Focus on AI Safety

The hiring occurs against a backdrop of increased regulatory scrutiny. OpenAI is among several leading AI developers facing an FTC investigation into potential consumer harms from AI technology—prompted, in part, by incidents like the recent probing of Hugging Face’s coding hub before a large-scale cyberattack.