Do you personally think the President Elect should use a mobile device and/or e-mail once in the White House? Would that change a lot of security procedures?

At this point, the question is moot; President Obama will get to use a secure mobile smartphone. When asked prior to the decision, I have said that his staff can keep him apprised and connected. But as our first connected President with access to his own email, we are looking at a watershed moment for government technology.

I do know that he will be subject to the strictest enforcement of the protocols designed to protect both the information he holds and the President himself. We must also remember that these are not one-way tools. There are people on the receiving end of his transmissions that are also targets.


What are some of the issues that can arise from a security breach of a mobile device used by the President?

Any number of issues could arise from a security breach. The possibilities are endless the President of the United States is privy to information that few other people in the world can access. If his personal communications are infiltrated, the material uncovered could be used to harm him, his family, the military and the government. Securing the President and his communications has always been treated with the highest degree of scrutiny and additional vehicles used to share this info only arouse greater concern.