Air Force general selected to lead NSA, Cyber Command

President Biden has nominated Air Force Lt. Gen. Timothy Haugh to serve as the new head of the NSA and the U.S. Cyber Command, according to an Air Force notice seen by Politico.

If confirmed, Haugh will replace Gen. Paul Nakasone, the current leader of the NSA and the U.S. Cyber Command. Haugh currently serves as the deputy commander of U.S. Cyber Command.

His nomination follows reports that Nakasone is expected to resign in the coming months.

According to the Wall Street Journal, the four-star general is looking to leave by August or September, but it’s unclear whether he plans to retire or take another position in the government or move to the private sector. 

This also follows pressure from lawmakers asking the Biden administration to expedite the nomination of a new national cyber director who would replace the former head of the office, Chris Inglis, who resigned earlier this year. 

In a letter sent to Biden this month, Sen. Angus King (I-Maine) and Rep. Mike Gallagher (R-Wis.), who co-chair the Cyberspace Solarium Commission, said the administration should move quickly on the national cyber director nomination as cyberattacks continue to be a significant threat to the nation. 

The lawmakers urged the president to nominate acting director Kemba Walden, who was principal deputy under Inglis. The lawmakers said she is “highly qualified” and “well suited” for the position, and they believe that she will receive a swift confirmation.

Gallagher told The Hill in a statement that he was glad that President Biden has nominated someone to lead the two agencies. 

“General Nakasone leaves big shoes to fill, and I hope to have the chance to work with Lt. General Haugh on ways we can build on General Nakasone’s successes and strengthen our nation’s cyber defenses,” Gallagher said.

“That said, this position is only half of the equation. To ensure we’re at full strength in the cyber domain, President Biden must also take the long overdue step of nominating Kemba Walden to serve as National Cyber Director, as Senator King and I have called on him to do,” he added. 

The NSA declined to comment while the U.S. Cyber command did not respond to a request for comment. 

Updated: 8:19 p.m. ET