Trump team comes together

Homeland January 18, 2017

With only a few days left until President-elect Trump’s inauguration, we look at his picks for the cabinet team so far.

Last week saw Rudy Giuliani appointed as lead on the cybersecurity team. Mr Giuliani has been tasked with forming a team of private cyber security experts to advise the president and policy. Mr Trump obviously sees cyber security as a top priority during his term, stating he plans to create a cybersecurity team within the first 90 days in office – perhaps a backlash from the reports of Russian hackers’ meddling with the US election and following reports.

The president-elect has called cyber-intrusion “the fastest growing crime in the United States and much of the world” and a “major threat” to national security.

Mr Guiliani has been appointed due to his expertise running an international security consulting firm in the private cybersecurity sector.

The new Secretary of State will be James Mattis, a retired Marine Corps general. Mr Trump’s defence chief served 44 years with the Marine Corps fighting in Iraq and Afghanistan, and having a key role in fighting in Falluja in 2004. Having led US Central Command from 2010 to 2013, General Mattis has been praised by MR Trump as “A true General’s General!” and well-liked by those he commands.

General Mattis only retired in 2013, so a waiver will have to be found for the law that bans military officers from serving as defence chief for seven years after leaving active duty.

The Department of Homeland Security Secretary will be led by retired Marine General John F Kelly. He will be responsible for a number of security issues such as immigration and cyber hacking, airport security and natural disaster management.

With a military career that spans four decades, Mr Kelly is the highest-ranking military officer to lose a child in the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, with his son Robert killed in 2010.

This appointment sees three generals appointed to Mr Trump’s cabinet, with General Michael Flynn already appointed as national Security Advisor; a number not seen since President Ulysees S Grant with four military commanders in his cabinet.

Further security expertise will be seen in :