Defense

Trump taps Army’s Nakasone as next NSA, Cyber Command head

FedScoop's sister publication CyberScoop reported in recent weeks that Nakasone was the favorite to land the job.

February 14, 2018

Lt. Gen. Paul Nakasone addresses a crowd during an Association of the U.S. Army panel discussion in Arlington, Virginia, Nov. 3, 2016. (Photo credit: Sean Kimmons)

President Trump is set to name Army Lt. Gen. Paul Nakasone as his nominee to be the next NSA director and commander of U.S. Cyber Command, White House cybersecurity coordinator Rob Joyce announced on Twitter late Tuesday.

Nakasone is a respected military professional who has gained a reputation for pioneering the development of the the U.S.’s premier cyberwarfare force. If confirmed by the Senate, he would be the first Asian-American to hold the position. NSA Director Mike Rogers is expected to retire this spring.

FedScoop’s sister publication CyberScoop reported in recent weeks that Nakasone was the favorite to land the job.

If confirmed, he will bring an innate familiarity to the role given his recent work with U.S. Cyber Command, a partner organization to NSA, which is similarly headquartered at Fort Meade military base in Maryland. Cyber Command includes the cyber mission teams of each military service branch, including the Navy, Army and Air Force, and operates on Title 10 authorities, making it a warfare and not intelligence collection focused outfit.

Read more on Nakasone’s nomination and background on CyberScoop.