US Navy man picked to lead beleagured NSA
1 Feb 2014 5:53 AM IST
President Barack Obama nominated on Thursday the US Navy's top cyber warrior to head the National Security Agency, a move seen as a vote of confidence in a unit that is under fire for spying on Americans and their allies.
Navy Vice Admiral Michael Rogers, a cryptologist and head of US Fleet Cyber Command, is not expected to immediately make major changes to the NSA, shaken by revelations by former contractor Edward Snowden.
‘This is a critical time for the NSA, and Vice Admiral Rogers would bring extraordinary and unique qualifications to this position as the agency continues its vital mission and implements President Obama's reforms,’ Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel said in a statement.
‘I am also confident that Admiral Rogers has the wisdom to help balance the demands of security, privacy and liberty in our digital age,’ Hagel said.
The NSA is under fire for monitoring the communications of Americans and allies abroad as well as those of potential US enemies through a sweeping eavesdropping program, the scope of which was disclosed to the media by Snowden.
The documents that Snowden stole and leaked to the news media exposed the reach of US surveillance activities, including the bulk collection of telephone records of millions of Americans, as part of counterterrorism efforts.
If confirmed by the Senate, Rogers would take over as head of both the NSA and the military's Cyber Command from Army General Keith Alexander, who is likely to retire in March or April.
Navy Vice Admiral Michael Rogers, a cryptologist and head of US Fleet Cyber Command, is not expected to immediately make major changes to the NSA, shaken by revelations by former contractor Edward Snowden.
‘This is a critical time for the NSA, and Vice Admiral Rogers would bring extraordinary and unique qualifications to this position as the agency continues its vital mission and implements President Obama's reforms,’ Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel said in a statement.
‘I am also confident that Admiral Rogers has the wisdom to help balance the demands of security, privacy and liberty in our digital age,’ Hagel said.
The NSA is under fire for monitoring the communications of Americans and allies abroad as well as those of potential US enemies through a sweeping eavesdropping program, the scope of which was disclosed to the media by Snowden.
The documents that Snowden stole and leaked to the news media exposed the reach of US surveillance activities, including the bulk collection of telephone records of millions of Americans, as part of counterterrorism efforts.
If confirmed by the Senate, Rogers would take over as head of both the NSA and the military's Cyber Command from Army General Keith Alexander, who is likely to retire in March or April.
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