Auburn University’s McCrary Institute for Cyber and Critical Infrastructure Security is bringing two heavyweight national-security figures onto its advisory board.
Former U.S. Department of Homeland Security Secretary under President Donald Trump, Kirstjen Nielsen, now president of Lighthouse Strategies, and Auburn alumnus James Hoskins, a former U.S. Air Force intelligence leader who built Scitor Corporation into a mission-critical intelligence firm later acquired by SAIC, will join the board.
According to the institute, as board members, Nielsen and Hoskins will serve as senior advisors, bringing deep experience from the highest echelons of national security and private-sector leadership.
They join an already distinguished roster of advisors, including corporate executives, senior government officials and Auburn University leadership.
From its policy hub in Washington, D.C., the Institute works closely with federal agencies, Congress and industry leaders to shape actionable public policy in a rapidly evolving digital landscape. In Auburn and Huntsville, its applied research teams develop and deploy practical solutions that help safeguard critical infrastructure systems across the Southeast and the nation.
“It’s a pleasure to welcome former Secretary of Homeland Security Kirstjen Nielsen and Auburn’s own renowned engineer James Hoskinsto our advisory board,” said Lt. Gen. Ronald L. Burgess Jr., McCrary Institute Advisory Board chairman and former director of the U.S. Defense Intelligence Agency.
“Bringing on these renowned leaders in homeland and national security will only further our ability to help the McCrary Institute have a meaningful impact on our nation.”
“I am deeply honored to join the board of the McCrary Institute, a dynamic and mission-driven institution that not only leads in cybersecurity innovation and education but also stands as a national resource, shaping the future of policy, research and resilience,” said Kirstjen Nielsen, the sixth Secretary of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.
“The McCrary Institute stands out because it does not stop at ideas or theory — it ensures that innovation is tested against the realities of the field. By bringing operational context and real-world requirements into its work, the Institute grounds cyber policy, research and innovation in the challenges faced every day by operators and defenders of critical infrastructure. This ‘policy informed by practice’ approach ensures that strategies are not only conceptually sound but also executable, scalable and relevant. It is a privilege to contribute to such a unique and vital institution.”
“It’s an honor and privilege to serve Auburn University’s McCrary Institute,” said James Hoskins, former chairman and CEO of the Scitor Corporation.
“The cybersecurity mission of the McCrary Institute is national in scope and priority. America’s future is in great hands considering the capabilities, personnel and facilities that have been assembled by McCrary with the aim to make a landmark difference.”
Frank Cilluffo, director of the McCrary Institute, praised the additions, saying the pair’s experience will strengthen the institute’s mission and its roster of national security leaders.
“I’m thrilled that Kirstjen and James are joining the McCrary Institute’s advisory board,” said Cilluffo. “They bring deep experience in national security, cybersecurity and public service — adding invaluable perspective to an already exceptional group. Their advice and counsel will help us strengthen our efforts to protect the critical infrastructure that underpins our nation’s security, economy and communities.”
Grayson Everett is the editor and chief of Yellowhammer News. You can follow him on X @Grayson270.
