Paul Nakasone Confirmed By Senate To Head NSA, Cyber Command

WASHINGTON, DC — Lt. Gen. Paul Nakasone has been confirmed by voice vote in the Senate to be the next head of the NSA and Cyber Command, according to multiple media outlets. A change of command ceremony is planned on Friday.

Nakasone is taking over as Russia tries to create mayhem in America's elections and targets its electrical grid and other key infrastructure systems. Intelligence officials previously told The Washington Post that Russia is the greatest strategic threat to the U.S.

“Russia is the most significant national security threat facing Paul Nakasone at Cyber Command and NSA,” former Pentagon chief of staff and senior cyber official Eric Rosenbach told the Post earlier this month. “Given the escalating tensions between the United States and Russia, and the fact that they continue to hack key democratic institutions and conduct information operations, that makes Russia his top strategic concern when he assumes command.”

Nakasone has said he is "greatly concerned" about the security at the NSA and will aggressively go after leakers. He cited contractors Edward Snowden and Hal Martin as "particularly egregious" examples of threats from within.

"I find leaks of classified information reprehensible, I consider their damage to national security grave and unacceptable, and I will vigorously hold all personnel accountable to stop leaks and compromises," he preciously told the Senate Intelligence Committee. "Additionally, I will submit crimes reports to the Department of Justice when I believe an unauthorized disclosure of classified information, or other potential Federal crime, has occurred."

According to his biography, Nakasone is a native of White Bear Lake, Minnesota, and graduated from Saint John's University in Collegeville, Minnesota, where he received his commission through the Reserve Officers' Training Corps.

He received a thumbs up from fellow Minnesotan U.S. Sen. Amy Klobuchar. The Democrat said he is "more than up for this job."

"Incoming NSA chief has a reputation for winning ‘all the important fights.’ Russia will be his biggest test yet," she tweeted earlier this month.

Nakasone assumed command of U.S. Army Cyber Command in October 2016. He has held command and staff positions across all levels of the Army with assignments in the U.S., Korea, Iraq and Afghanistan.

He also holds graduate degrees from the U.S. Army War College, the National Defense Intelligence College and the University of Southern California.

Confirmed by Voice Vote: Exec. Cal. #765 Lt. Gen Paul M. Nakasone to be General (Commander, U.S. Army Cyber Command)
— Senate Cloakroom (@SenateCloakroom) April 24, 2018

BREAKING: Lt. Gen. Paul Nakasone confirmed by voice vote in the Senate to be the next head of NSA and Cyber Command.
— Ellen Nakashima (@nakashimae) April 24, 2018

Photo credit: Alex Wong/Getty Images