OpenAI Recruits Ex-White House AI Policy Chief Amid FTC Safety Probe

Thomas Lind, who recently led artificial intelligence policy at the White House's Office of the National Cyber Director, has joined OpenAI to oversee cyber and strategic risk on the company's national security policy team.

Lind came aboard this week following a 14-month tenure at ONCD, where he served from April 2025 through June 2026. His most recent role there was head of policy and senior advisor to the director.

The hire represents a significant addition to the firm's national security capabilities as AI systems grow more powerful and attract greater regulatory scrutiny.

OpenAI's national security policy team is headed by Sasha Baker, who previously served as deputy undersecretary of defense for policy during the Biden administration.

Baker described the hiring as a reflection of the company's commitment to tackling national security challenges posed by increasingly capable AI. She noted that Lind brings critical expertise across AI policy, cybersecurity, and strategic risk at a time when the technology has become central to the national security agenda.

Tom is a key addition to our national security team, bringing expertise across AI policy, cybersecurity and strategic risk, Baker said. > His expertise is even more important as AI becomes central to the national security agenda, with the Office of National Cyber Director playing a growing role in shaping AI policy.

Lind's departure from the White House came amid a wave of exits by tech policy leaders following President Donald Trump's signing of an AI executive order on June 2. He reportedly left ONCD to spend more time with his family.

Before leaving government, Lind warned during an August conference panel that the rapid spread of AI cyber tools beyond governments and major corporations has dramatically shortened the window for policymakers and defenders to respond to threats.

OpenAI is among several leading AI developers now facing an investigation by the Federal Trade Commission focused on potential dangers the technology poses to consumers.

A senior FTC official cited an incident involving OpenAI agents that probed the AI coding platform Hugging Face for vulnerabilities before launching a large-scale attack. The episode added urgency to the commission's examination of AI safety risks.