Brian Cavanaugh
Brian Cavanaugh has been promoted to special assistant to the president and senior director for resilience policy within the National Security Council (NSC). He previously served as deputy senior director for resilience policy and joined the NSC in April 2018 as director for preparedness policy.
The National Security Council advises the president on national security and foreign policy, then coordinates these policies with other government agencies. Currently, the NSC is working on initiatives that protect the federal government and private sector’s data — with 5G ready to revolutionize the way machines operate, it’s important to set guidelines that safeguard information and system security. President Trump recently signed the Securing the Information and Communications Technology and Services Supply Chain, an executive order that allows federal agencies to review information and communications technology that may result in unnecessary risk.
Cavanaugh began his government career in 2010 at FEMA, the Federal Emergency Management Agency, as a program analyst, integrating federal policies in accordance with the agency’s preparedness program. In 2014, he became a senior appropriations liaison and prepared senior FEMA leadership for congressional and OMB meetings. From 2017 to April 2018, he was FEMA’s director for external coordination.
Before FEMA, Cavanaugh gained experience working as a deputy fire chief, firefighter, and EMT for the Laurel Volunteer Fire Department in Maryland. He has a Bachelor of Arts in Criminology and Criminal Justice from the University of Maryland, College Park and a Master’s in Homeland Security from the University of Maryland, University College.
