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 (CSS) and as the commander of U.S. Cyber Command (USCYBERCOM). As the director of the NSA and the chief of the CSS, 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.
AFSA directors The Armed Forces Security Agency was the predecessor to the National Security Agency and existed from 1949 to 1952. Director Term Service branch President Portrait Name Took office Left office Term length 1 Rear AdmiralEarl E. Stone 1949 1951 2 years U.S. Navy Harry S. Truman 2 Major GeneralRalph Canine 1951 1952 1 year U.S. Army
NSA directors Director Term Service branch President Portrait Name Took office Left office Term length 1 Lieutenant GeneralRalph Canine 1952 1956 4 years U.S. Army Harry S. TrumanDwight D. Eisenhower 2 Lieutenant GeneralJohn Samford 1956 1960 4 years U.S. Air Force Dwight D. Eisenhower 3 Vice AdmiralLaurence Frost 1960 1962 3 years U.S. Navy Dwight D. EisenhowerJohn F. Kennedy 4 Lieutenant GeneralGordon Blake 1962 1965 3 years U.S. Air Force John F. KennedyLyndon B. Johnson 5 Lieutenant GeneralMarshall Carter 1965 1969 4 years U.S. Army Lyndon B. JohnsonRichard Nixon 6 Vice AdmiralNoel Gayler 1969 1972 3 years U.S. Navy Richard Nixon 7 Lieutenant GeneralSamuel C. Phillips 1972 1973 1 year U.S. Air Force 8 Lieutenant GeneralLew Allen 1973 1977 4 years U.S. Air Force Richard NixonGerald FordJimmy Carter 9 Vice AdmiralBobby Ray Inman 1977 1981 4 years U.S. Navy Jimmy CarterRonald Reagan 10 Lieutenant GeneralLincoln Faurer 1981 1985 4 years U.S. Air Force Ronald Reagan 11 Lieutenant GeneralWilliam Odom 1985 1988 3 years U.S. Army 12 Vice AdmiralWilliam Studeman 1988 1992 4 years U.S. Navy Ronald ReaganGeorge H. W. Bush 13 Vice AdmiralJohn M. McConnell 1992 1996 4 years U.S. Navy George H. W. BushBill Clinton 14 Lieutenant GeneralKenneth A. Minihan 1996 1999 3 years U.S. Air Force Bill Clinton 15 Lieutenant GeneralMichael Hayden 21 March 1999 21 April 2005 U.S. Air Force Bill ClintonGeorge W. Bush 16 GeneralKeith B. AlexanderAlexander was originally a lieutenant general when he first assumed office on 1 August 2006. He was promoted to general when he assumed the additional assignment as Commander, U.S. Cyber Command on 21 May 2010. 1 August 2005 28 March 2014 U.S. Army George W. BushBarack Obama 17 AdmiralMichael S. Rogers 2 April 2014 4 May 2018 U.S. Navy Barack ObamaDonald Trump 18 GeneralPaul M. Nakasone 4 May 2018 2 February 2024 U.S. Army Donald TrumpJoe Biden19 GeneralTimothy D. Haugh 2 February 2024 3 April 2025 U.S. Air Force Joe Biden Donald Trump– Lieutenant GeneralWilliam J. Hartman 3 April 2025 15 March 2026 U.S. Army Donald Trump20 GeneralJoshua M. Rudd 16 March 2026 Incumbent U.S. Army Donald Trump
References
External links List of former NSA directors