Sean Cairncross served as the COO of the Republican National Committee for the 2024 presidential cycle.
Previously, he served as President Trump’s Chief Executive Officer of the Millennium Challenge Corporation from 2019-2021. While leading MCC, Mr. Cairncross worked to bring MCC into strategic alignment with U.S. foreign policy and on increasing partner countries’ economic growth through private sector engagement, market expansion, and the advancement of women’s economic participation.
Prior to his presidential nomination and Senate confirmation to MCC in 2019, Mr. Cairncross served as Deputy Assistant to the President and Senior White House Advisor to the Chief of Staff where he provided counsel on a variety of issues including national security matters. He sat proxy on the National Security Council Principals Committee on behalf of the Chief of Staff.
Mr. Cairncross was the Chief Operating Officer of the Republican National Committee from 2015 to 2016 heading the committee’s day-to-day operations, overseeing the presidential primary debates, and the national convention. He also served as Deputy Executive Director and General Counsel for the National Republican Senatorial Committee under Senator John Cornyn (R-TX) from 2009 to 2013 and RNC Chief Counsel from 2007 to 2009.
Mr. Cairncross began his career at Covington & Burling and holds a J.D. from NYU School of Law, an M.Phil in international relations from Cambridge University, and a B.A., summa cum laude, from American University.