Computer and Communications Industry Association President Ed Black issued a statement Wednesday saying the Symantec executive "has run an innovative, global company for more than a decade and that experience is just what is needed for the economic challenges our nation faces." He also seems to have the political and policy skills necessary to succeed in Washington, Black said, noting that the nation "needs more innovation to grow the economy and a government that understands how to boost - or at least not suppress - that innovation."

"Thompson clearly has policy experience on issues ranging from cyber security and patent reform to export controls and international trade. We look forward to seeing what he could do leading the Commerce Department," said Black, whose group represents a number of technology firms in Washington including Microsoft, Google and Yahoo. Symantec, one of the world's most prominent computer security and systems management companies, is not presently a member of CCIA. Read more about Thompson here and watch a video of his TechNet speech here.