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President Donald Trump formally nominated Army Lt. Gen. Joshua Rudd to lead the National Security Agency and U.S. Cyber Command in a dual-hatted capacity, the Defense Department said Thursday.
The signals intelligence titan and combatant command have been without a permanent leader for months, after far-right activist Laura Loomer pushed for the firing of previous leader, Gen. Timothy Haugh, in April. Since then, Lt. Gen. William Hartman has led the agency in an acting capacity.
Rudd, the current deputy director for Indo-Pacific Command, appears to not have previously held a military cybersecurity position, though a person familiar with his nomination said his background in a global region that includes China would align with U.S. goals to counter Chinese cyber threats.
The Senate received President Donald Trump’s nomination for Rudd to be promoted to general for the leadership role on Monday. A four-star general is traditionally tapped to lead NSA and Cyber Command in a dual-hatted capacity.
The NSA specializes in hacking and foreign eavesdropping and is deemed a “combat support agency” that faces oversight from both the Office of the Director of National Intelligence and the Defense Department.
The agency has been facing waves of internal strain and lower morale across its workforce amid a mix of leadership gaps, program cuts and recent deferred resignation offers, Nextgov/FCW reported last month. It recently achieved a goal to shed around 2,000 people from its workforce this year.
In the same DOD announcement, Marine Corps Maj. Gen. Lorna Mahlock was formally nominated to be deputy chief of Cyber Command.
“I look forward to reviewing Lt. Gen. Rudd’s nomination and evaluating his qualifications to lead the NSA and U.S. Cyber Command at a moment of unprecedented cyber and national security threats,” said Senate Intelligence Committee Vice Chairman Mark Warner., D- Va.
“That said, it should never have taken this long to nominate someone to this critical post. The administration has left the NSA without a confirmed director or deputy director since April, after abruptly firing the previous leadership without explanation, at the apparent direction of conspiracy theorist Laura Loomer,” he added. “At a time when China, Russia, Iran, and criminal actors are constantly probing our defenses, this kind of chaos and vacancy at the top makes America less safe. We need steady, experienced leadership at our most critical national security agencies.”
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21 Comments
The fact that the NSA has been facing internal strain and lower morale across its workforce due to leadership gaps, program cuts, and recent deferred resignation offers is troubling, and I hope Lt. Gen. Rudd’s nomination will help address these issues.
The lack of a permanent leader at the NSA and Cyber Command for months has likely created uncertainty and instability, and I hope Lt. Gen. Rudd’s nomination will bring much-needed stability and direction to the agencies.
I’m concerned that Lt. Gen. Rudd doesn’t have a background in military cybersecurity, despite his experience in the Indo-Pacific Command, and how this might impact his ability to lead the NSA and Cyber Command effectively.
The deferred resignation offers and program cuts at the NSA have likely created uncertainty among the workforce, and I hope Lt. Gen. Rudd will prioritize addressing these issues and restoring stability to the agency.
The nomination of Lt. Gen. Rudd and Maj. Gen. Lorna Mahlock is a positive step towards filling the leadership gaps at the NSA and Cyber Command, but I’m concerned about the potential impact of the recent workforce reductions on the agencies’ capabilities.
I’m interested in learning more about Lt. Gen. Rudd’s vision for the NSA and Cyber Command, and how he plans to address the internal strain and morale issues within the agencies.
It’s essential for Lt. Gen. Rudd to prioritize transparency and communication with the workforce to rebuild trust and confidence in the agencies’ leadership.
The nomination of Lt. Gen. Joshua Rudd to lead the National Security Agency and U.S. Cyber Command comes after months of vacancies, which Senate Intelligence Committee Vice Chairman Mark Warner believes has left the NSA without a confirmed director or deputy director since April.
The NSA’s role as a combat support agency, facing oversight from both the Office of the Director of National Intelligence and the Defense Department, adds complexity to Lt. Gen. Rudd’s leadership position, and I wonder how he will navigate these relationships.
It’s interesting that the NSA recently achieved its goal of shedding around 2,000 people from its workforce this year, but I wonder how this will affect the agency’s capabilities and effectiveness in the long run.
Marine Corps Maj. Gen. Lorna Mahlock’s nomination to be deputy chief of Cyber Command is a positive step, and I believe her experience will be valuable in supporting Lt. Gen. Rudd’s leadership.
The nomination of Lt. Gen. Rudd is a positive step, but I believe it’s essential to consider the potential challenges and risks associated with his leadership, particularly given the complex cybersecurity landscape and the NSA’s critical role in national security.
I’m skeptical about the timing of Lt. Gen. Rudd’s nomination, given that it comes after far-right activist Laura Loomer pushed for the firing of previous leader Gen. Timothy Haugh in April, and I question whether this nomination is a result of political pressure.
The influence of activists like Laura Loomer on high-level personnel decisions is a concern, and it’s essential to ensure that nominations are based on merit and qualifications rather than political agendas.
I’m curious to know more about the Senate’s review process for Lt. Gen. Rudd’s nomination and how they will evaluate his qualifications to lead the NSA and Cyber Command.
The fact that a four-star general is traditionally tapped to lead the NSA and Cyber Command in a dual-hatted capacity suggests that Lt. Gen. Rudd’s promotion to general is a significant step, and I’m curious to see how he will navigate the complexities of this role.
I’m curious to know more about the potential impact of Lt. Gen. Rudd’s nomination on the NSA’s relationships with other intelligence agencies and the Defense Department.
I’m supportive of Lt. Gen. Rudd’s nomination, but I believe it’s essential to consider the potential risks and challenges associated with his lack of direct experience in military cybersecurity.
Lt. Gen. Rudd’s experience in the Indo-Pacific Command could be beneficial in countering Chinese cyber threats, but I wonder if he has the necessary expertise to address the complex cybersecurity challenges facing the NSA and Cyber Command.
The fact that China, Russia, Iran, and criminal actors are constantly probing our defenses highlights the urgency of having effective leadership at the NSA and Cyber Command, and I hope Lt. Gen. Rudd’s nomination will help address these threats.
The Senate Intelligence Committee Vice Chairman Mark Warner’s statement that the administration has left the NSA without a confirmed director or deputy director since April is a valid concern, and I hope the Senate will thoroughly review Lt. Gen. Rudd’s nomination to ensure he’s the right person for the job.