point man

plural point men

1. governmentIn combat, the soldier who takes point; the soldier who assumes the first and most exposed position in a combat military formation; the lead soldier/unit advancing through hostile or unsecured territory.

   The point man is the only one besides the Shooter who could verify the kill shots firsthand, and he did just that to another SEAL I spoke with.

   2013 February 11, Phil Bronstein, “The Man Who Killed Osama bin Laden… Is Screwed”, in Esquire Magazine

2. broadlyidiomaticA most trusted assistant or associate; the person upon whom one would most rely.

   McCarthy made a name for himself as a point man for a far right-wing current that attacked the Truman administration for the "loss" of China.

   2005 March 2, Leslie Feinberg, “Even McCarthy was gay baited”, in Workers World

   Synonyms: right-hand man