Director of the National Security Agency

The U.S. Intelligence community received $71.7 billion in appropriated funds for the National Intelligence Program, which funds the strategic intelligence activities associated with the NSA.³⁴ The director of the National Security Agency is tri-hatted as the commander of U.S. Cyber Command⁵ and chief of the Central Security Service.⁶

As NSA director/chief of the Central Security Service:

• Serves as the principal advisor on signals intelligence and information assurance to the secretary of defense, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, the Combatant Commanders and other U.S. government officials.
• Oversees and manages the collection, processing, analysis, production, and dissemination of signals intelligence information for foreign intelligence and counterintelligence purposes.
• Develops and implements policies, standards, and guidelines for the security of national security information systems, ensuring their availability, integrity and confidentiality.
• Provides signals intelligence and information assurance support to DOD components and national-level customers, including technical guidance and assistance.
• Coordinates with the director of national intelligence on signals intelligence activities and ensures alignment with national intelligence priorities and requirements.
• Manages NSA/CSS resources, including personnel, facilities and budget to effectively support peacetime, contingency, crisis and combat operations.

As commander of U.S. Cyber Command:

• Serves as operations joint force provider and trainer and is responsible for the planning of cyberspace missions, as specified in the Unified Command Plan and 10 U.S.C. §167b.
• Directs, secures and defends the DOD information network operations.
• Maintains freedom of maneuver in cyberspace.
• Executes full-spectrum military cyberspace operations and provides shared situational awareness of cyberspace operations, including indications and warning.
• Integrates and synchronizes cyberspace operations with other combatant commands and other appropriate U.S. government agencies tasked with defending our nation’s interests in cyberspace; and supports civil authorities and international partners.

 

Depends on the policy priorities of the administration.