Director of the National Security Agency

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Director of the National Security Agency
Flag of the U.S. National Security Agency.svg
Flag of the National Security Agency
Gen Timothy D. Haugh.jpg
Incumbent
General Timothy D. Haugh, USAF
since February 2, 2024
National Security Agency
Status Chief Executive
Reports to
Seat Fort Meade, Maryland
Nominator Secretary of Defense
Appointer President
with Senate advice and consent
Constituting instrument 10 U.S.C.   § 201
PrecursorDirector of the Armed Forces Security Agency
Formation1952
First holderMG Ralph Canine, USA
Deputy Deputy Director
Website www.nsa.gov

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.

Contents

According to 10 U.S.C.   § 201 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.

No.DirectorTermService branchPresident
PortraitNameTook officeLeft officeTerm length
1 Earl E. Stone.jpg Rear Admiral
Earl E. Stone
194919512 years Emblem of the United States Navy.svg
U.S. Navy
Harry S. Truman
2 Ralph Canine, official military portrait.jpg Major General
Ralph Canine
195119521 year Military service mark of the United States Army.svg
U.S. Army

NSA directors

No.DirectorTermService branchPresident
PortraitNameTook officeLeft officeTerm length
1 Ralph Canine, official military portrait.jpg Lieutenant General
Ralph Canine
195219564 years Military service mark of the United States Army.svg
U.S. Army
Harry S. Truman
Dwight D. Eisenhower
2 Samford John Alexander.jpg Lieutenant General
John Samford
195619604 years Military service mark of the United States Air Force.svg
U.S. Air Force
Dwight D. Eisenhower
3 Portrait of Laurence H. Frost.jpg Vice Admiral
Laurence Frost
196019623 years Emblem of the United States Navy.svg
U.S. Navy
Dwight D. Eisenhower
John F. Kennedy
4 Gordon Blake, official military photo.jpg Lieutenant General
Gordon Blake
196219653 years Military service mark of the United States Air Force.svg
U.S. Air Force
John F. Kennedy
Lyndon B. Johnson
5 Marshall S. Carter.jpg Lieutenant General
Marshall Carter
196519694 years Military service mark of the United States Army.svg
U.S. Army
Lyndon B. Johnson
Richard Nixon
6 Noel Gayler.jpg Vice Admiral
Noel Gayler
196919723 years Emblem of the United States Navy.svg
U.S. Navy
Richard Nixon
7 General Samuel C Phillips USAF.jpeg Lieutenant General
Samuel C. Phillips
197219731 year Military service mark of the United States Air Force.svg
U.S. Air Force
8 Gen Lew Allen, color portrait.jpg Lieutenant General
Lew Allen
197319774 years Military service mark of the United States Air Force.svg
U.S. Air Force
Richard Nixon
Gerald Ford
Jimmy Carter
9 Admiral Bobby Ray Inman, official CIA photo, 1983.JPEG Vice Admiral
Bobby Ray Inman
197719814 years Emblem of the United States Navy.svg
U.S. Navy
Jimmy Carter
Ronald Reagan
10 Lincoln Faurer.jpg Lieutenant General
Lincoln Faurer
198119854 years Military service mark of the United States Air Force.svg
U.S. Air Force
Ronald Reagan
11 William Odom.jpg Lieutenant General
William Odom
198519883 years Military service mark of the United States Army.svg
U.S. Army
12 Vice Admiral William Studeman (NSA), 1988.jpg Vice Admiral
William Studeman
198819924 years Emblem of the United States Navy.svg
U.S. Navy
Ronald Reagan
George H. W. Bush
13 Vice Adm. Mike McConnell, NSA.jpg Vice Admiral
John M. McConnell
199219964 years Emblem of the United States Navy.svg
U.S. Navy
George H. W. Bush
Bill Clinton
14 Kenneth Minihan, official military photo.jpg Lieutenant General
Kenneth A. Minihan
199619993 years Military service mark of the United States Air Force.svg
U.S. Air Force
Bill Clinton
15 Michael V. Hayden as NSA director.jpg Lieutenant General
Michael Hayden
21 March 199921 April 20056 years, 31 days Military service mark of the United States Air Force.svg
U.S. Air Force
Bill Clinton
George W. Bush
16 Keith B. Alexander official portrait.jpg General
Keith B. Alexander [2]
1 August 200528 March 20148 years, 239 days Military service mark of the United States Army.svg
U.S. Army
George W. Bush
Barack Obama
17 Admiral Michael S. Rogers, USN.jpg Admiral
Michael S. Rogers
2 April 20144 May 20184 years, 32 days Emblem of the United States Navy.svg
U.S. Navy
Barack Obama
Donald Trump
18 General Paul M. Nakasone (NSA).jpg General
Paul M. Nakasone
4 May 20182 February 20245 years, 274 days Military service mark of the United States Army.svg
U.S. Army
Donald Trump
Joe Biden
19 Gen Timothy D. Haugh.jpg General
Timothy D. Haugh
2 February 2024Present91 days Military service mark of the United States Air Force.svg
U.S. Air Force
Joe Biden

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References

  1. "About NSA". National Security Agency. Archived from the original on 2 August 2008. Retrieved 21 December 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.