Director of the National Security Agency - wikipedia Director of the National Security Agency Director of the National Security Agency Incumbent Admiral Michael S. Rogers, USN since April 2, 2014 Formation 1952 First holder MG Ralph Canine, USA Website Official Website 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 Chief of the Central Security Service ( CHCSS ) and as Commander of U.S. Cyber Command ( USCYBERCOM ). As DIRNSA / CHCSS the officeholder reports through the Under Secretary of Defense for Intelligence, and as CDRUSCYBERCOM through the Commander of U.S. Strategic Command, to the Secretary of Defense. 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 December 23, 1971, the Director of the NSA must always be a commissioned officer of the military services. Because 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 Deputy Director is always a technically experienced civilian. Contents 1 AFSA directors 2 NSA directors 3 References 4 External links Afsa directors The Armed Forces Security Agency was the predecessor to the National Security Agency and existed from 1949 to 1952. # Director Service Term President ( s ) served under RADM Earl E. Stone USN 1949 -- 1951 Harry S. Truman MG Ralph Canine USA 1951 -- 1952 Harry S. Truman NSA directors # Director Photo Service Term President ( s ) served under MG Ralph Canine USA 1952 -- 1956 Harry S. Truman Dwight D. Eisenhower Lt Gen John Samford USAF 1956 -- 1960 Dwight D. Eisenhower VADM Laurence Frost USN 1960 -- 1962 Dwight D. Eisenhower John F. Kennedy Lt Gen Gordon Blake USAF 1962 -- 1965 John F. Kennedy Lyndon B. Johnson LTG Marshall Carter USA 1965 -- 1969 Lyndon B. Johnson Richard Nixon 6 VADM Noel Gayler USN 1969 -- 1972 Richard Nixon 7 Lt Gen Samuel C. Phillips USAF 1972 -- 1973 Richard Nixon 8 Lt Gen Lew Allen USAF 1973 -- 1977 Richard Nixon Gerald Ford Jimmy Carter 9 VADM Bobby Ray Inman USN 1977 -- 1981 Jimmy Carter Ronald Reagan 10 Lt Gen Lincoln Faurer USAF 1981 -- 1985 Ronald Reagan 11 LTG William Odom USA 1985 -- 1988 Ronald Reagan 12 VADM William Studeman USN 1988 -- 1992 Ronald Reagan George H.W. Bush 13 VADM John M. McConnell USN 1992 -- 1996 George H.W. Bush Bill Clinton 14 Lt Gen Kenneth A. Minihan USAF 1996 -- 1999 Bill Clinton 15 Lt Gen Michael Hayden USAF 1999 -- 2005 Bill Clinton George W. Bush 16 LTG / GEN Keith B. Alexander USA August 1, 2005 -- March 28, 2014 George W. Bush Barack Obama 17 ADM Michael S. Rogers USN April 2, 2014 -- present Barack Obama Donald Trump References Jump up ^ `` About NSA ''. National Security Agency. Archived from the original on 2008 - 08 - 02. Retrieved 2008 - 12 - 21. Jump up ^ Originally a lieutenant general when he first assumed office on August 1, 2005. Alexander was promoted to general when he assumed the additional assignment as Commander, U.S. Cyber Command on May 21, 2010. External links List of former NSA directors Directors of the National Security Agency Canine Samford Frost Blake Carter Gayler Phillips Allen Inman Faurer Odom Studeman McConnell Minihan Hayden Alexander Rogers United States Department of Defense Headquarters : The Pentagon James Mattis, Secretary of Defense Patrick M. Shanahan, Deputy Secretary of Defense Office of the Secretary of Defense ( including Defense Agencies and DoD Field Activities ) Deputy Secretary of Defense Deputy 's Advisory Working Group Office of Net Assessment Special Access Program Oversight Committee Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition, Technology and Logistics Director, Defense Research and Engineering Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency Missile Defense Agency Defense Contract Management Agency Defense Logistics Agency Defense Technical Information Center Defense Threat Reduction Agency Office of Economic Adjustment Defense Acquisition University Defense Acquisition Board Under Secretary of Defense for Policy Defense Security Cooperation Agency Defense POW / MIA Accounting Agency Defense Policy Board Advisory Committee Under Secretary of Defense ( Comptroller ) Defense Contract Audit Agency Defense Finance and Accounting Service Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness Defense Commissary Agency Department of Defense Education Activity DoD Human Resources Activity Military Health System Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences Defense Equal Opportunity Management Institute Under Secretary of Defense for Intelligence Defense Intelligence Agency Defense Security Service Defense Information Systems Agency National Geospatial - Intelligence Agency National Reconnaissance Office National Security Agency ( Director ) Assistant Secretary of Defense for Public Affairs Defense Media Activity ( American Forces Press Service, American Forces Radio and Television Service, Stars and Stripes, The Pentagon Channel ) General Counsel of the Department of Defense Defense Legal Services Agency Director of Administration and Management Pentagon Force Protection Agency Washington Headquarters Services Military Departments Department of the Army Secretary of the Army The Secretariat : Under Secretary of the Army Assistant Secretary for Acquisition, Logistics, and Technology Assistant Secretary for Civil Works Assistant Secretary ( Financial Management and Comptroller ) Assistant Secretary of the Army for Installations, Energy and Environment Assistant Secretary of the Army for Manpower and Reserve Affairs General Counsel of the Army The Administrative Assistant The Army Staff : Chief of Staff of the Army Vice Chief of Staff of the Army Sergeant Major of the Army Deputy Chief of Staff G - 8 Chief of Chaplains Judge Advocate General Provost Marshal General Surgeon General U.S. Army field organizations : see Structure of the United States Army Department of the Navy Secretary of the Navy The Secretariat : Under Secretary of the Navy Assistant Secretary of the Navy ( Financial Management and Comptroller ) Assistant Secretary of the Navy ( Installations and Environment ) Assistant Secretary of the Navy ( Manpower and Reserve Affairs ) Assistant Secretary of the Navy ( Research, Development and Acquisitions ) General Counsel of the Navy Judge Advocate General Naval Criminal Investigative Service Naval Inspector General Headquarters Marine Corps : Commandant of the Marine Corps Assistant Commandant of the Marine Corps Sergeant Major of the Marine Corps Chaplain U.S. Marine Corps field organizations : see Organization of the United States Marine Corps Office of the Chief of Naval Operations : Chief of Naval Operations Vice Chief of Naval Operations Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy Director of Naval Reactors Chief of Chaplains Chief of Naval Personnel Surgeon General United States Navy field organizations : see Structure of the United States Navy Department of the Air Force Secretary of the Air Force The Secretariat : Under Secretary of the Air Force Assistant Secretary of the Air Force ( Acquisition ) Assistant Secretary of the Air Force ( Financial Management & Comptroller ) Assistant Secretary of the Air Force ( Installations, Environment & Logistics ) Assistant Secretary of the Air Force ( Manpower & Reserve Affairs ) General Counsel of the Air Force Air Force Office of Special Investigations The Air Staff : Chief of Staff of the Air Force Vice Chief of Staff of the Air Force Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force Chief of Chaplains Chief of Safety Chief Scientist Judge Advocate General Surgeon General U.S. Air Force field organizations : Major Commands Direct Reporting Units Field Operating Agencies Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Senior Enlisted Advisor to the Chairman Joint Requirements Oversight Council Director of the Joint Staff Joint Staff National Military Command Center Alternate National Military Command Center National Defense University Combatant Commands Africa Command Central Command European Command Northern Command Pacific Command Southern Command Special Operations Command Strategic Command ( Cyber Command ) Transportation Command National Guard Bureau Chief of the National Guard Bureau Air National Guard Army National Guard Office of the Inspector General Defense Criminal Investigative Service Retrieved from `` https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Director_of_the_National_Security_Agency&oldid=803460216 '' Categories : Directors of the National Security Agency Talk Contents About Wikipedia Deutsch Bahasa Indonesia 日本 語 Edit links This page was last edited on 2 October 2017, at 17 : 43. 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Question: who is the head of the national security agency
Answer: ADM Michael S. Rogers