Director of the National Security Agency explained

Post:Director
Body:the National Security Agency
Flag:Flag of the U.S. National Security Agency.svg
Flagsize:150
Flagcaption:Flag of the National Security Agency
Incumbent:General Timothy D. Haugh, USAF
Incumbentsince:February 2, 2024
Department:National Security Agency
Status:Chief Executive
Reports To:
Seat:Fort Meade, Maryland
Nominator:Secretary of Defense
Appointer:President
Appointer Qualified:with Senate advice and consent
Precursor:Director of the Armed Forces Security Agency
Formation:1952
First:MG Ralph Canine, USA
Deputy:Deputy Director

The Director of the National Security Agency (DIRNSA) is the highest-ranking official of the National Security Agency, which is a defense agency within the U.S. Department of Defense. The director of the NSA also concurrently serves as the chief of the Central Security Service (CHCSS) and as the commander of U.S. Cyber Command (USCYBERCOM). As the director of the NSA and the chief of the CSC, the officeholder reports to the under secretary of defense for intelligence, and as the commander of U.S. Cyber Command, the officeholder reports directly to the secretary of defense.

According to of the United States Code, the director of the NSA is recommended by the secretary of defense and nominated for appointment by the president. The nominee must be confirmed via majority vote by the Senate. In accordance with Department of Defense Directive 5100.20, dated 23 December 1971, the director of the NSA must always be a commissioned officer of the military services. As the assignment is currently part of a tri-hatted position, the director of the NSA is appointed to the grade of a four-star general or admiral during the period of his incumbency. The director's deputy is always a technically experienced civilian.[1]

AFSA directors

The Armed Forces Security Agency was the predecessor to the National Security Agency and existed from 1949 to 1952.

DirectorTerm Service branchPresident
PortraitNameTook officeLeft officeTerm length
1Rear Admiral
Earl E. Stone
194919512 years
U.S. Navy
2 Major General
Ralph Canine
195119521 year
U.S. Army

NSA directors

DirectorTerm Service branchPresident
PortraitNameTook officeLeft officeTerm length
1Lieutenant General
Ralph Canine
195219564 years
U.S. Army
Harry S. Truman
Dwight D. Eisenhower
2Lieutenant General
John Samford
195619604 years
U.S. Air Force
Dwight D. Eisenhower
3Vice Admiral
Laurence Frost
196019623 years
U.S. Navy
Dwight D. Eisenhower
John F. Kennedy
4Lieutenant General
Gordon Blake
196219653 years
U.S. Air Force
John F. Kennedy
Lyndon B. Johnson
5Lieutenant General
Marshall Carter
196519694 years
U.S. Army
Lyndon B. Johnson
Richard Nixon
6Vice Admiral
Noel Gayler
196919723 years
U.S. Navy
Richard Nixon
7Lieutenant General
Samuel C. Phillips
197219731 year
U.S. Air Force
8Lieutenant General
Lew Allen
197319774 years
U.S. Air Force
Richard Nixon
Gerald Ford
Jimmy Carter
9Vice Admiral
Bobby Ray Inman
197719814 years
U.S. Navy
Jimmy Carter
Ronald Reagan
10Lieutenant General
Lincoln Faurer
198119854 years
U.S. Air Force
Ronald Reagan
11Lieutenant General
William Odom
198519883 years
U.S. Army
12Vice Admiral
William Studeman
198819924 years
U.S. Navy
Ronald Reagan
George H. W. Bush
13Vice Admiral
John M. McConnell
199219964 years
U.S. Navy
George H. W. Bush
Bill Clinton
14Lieutenant General
Kenneth A. Minihan
199619993 years
U.S. Air Force
Bill Clinton
15Lieutenant General
Michael Hayden
21 March 199921 April 2005
U.S. Air Force
Bill Clinton
George W. Bush
16General
Keith B. Alexander[2]
1 August 200528 March 2014
U.S. Army
George W. Bush
Barack Obama
17Admiral
Michael S. Rogers
2 April 20144 May 2018
U.S. Navy
Barack Obama
Donald Trump
18General
Paul M. Nakasone
4 May 20182 February 2024
U.S. Army
Donald Trump
Joe Biden
19General
Timothy D. Haugh
2 February 2024Present
U.S. Air Force
Joe Biden

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: About NSA. . 21 December 2008 . https://web.archive.org/web/20080802093150/http://www.nsa.gov/about/about00018.cfm . 2 August 2008.
  2. Alexander was originally a lieutenant general when he first assumed office on 1 August 2005. He was promoted to general when he assumed the additional assignment as Commander, U.S. Cyber Command on 21 May 2010.