Jake Braun

About Jake Braun

Jake Braun is the CEO of Cambridge Global Advisors (Apr 2025–present), where he leads cybersecurity, resilience, and workforce-development consulting for government and industry. He also directs the University of Chicago’s Cyber Policy Initiative (Aug 2024–present), overseeing Project Franklin at DEF CON. From Apr 2023–Jul 2024, Jake served as Acting Principal Deputy National Cyber Director at the White House. Jake Braun was the DHS Secretary\'s Senior Advisor to the Management Directorate, which oversees all operations for the department. Most recently, Jake serves as the Executive Director for the University of Chicago’s Cyber Policy Initiative where he worked at the center of policy, technology, and national security. In addition to his role at the University of Chicago, Jake also co-founded and serves as the CEO of Cambridge Global Advisors, a national security consulting firm with offices here in Chicago. He was also co-founder of the DEF CON Voting Machine Hacking Village where he co-authored two award-winning works on election security and has also recently published the critically acclaimed book, Democracy in Danger: How Hackers and Activists Exposed Fatal Flaws in the Election System (Rowman & Littlefield), on the same topic. Previous to that, he served in the Obama Administration as the Director of White House and Public Liaison for the Department of Homeland Security. He also served in leadership roles in the Obama and Biden presidential campaigns.

Experience

1. Chief Executive Officer

   Cambridge Global Advisors

   Apr 2025 — Present

Education

• National Louis University

  Master's Degree, Education

• Loyola University Chicago

  Bachelor's Degree, Philosophy

• Troy University

  Master's Degree, International Relations and Affairs