The National Security Agency has filled a long-standing leadership vacancy with the appointment of veteran intelligence official Tim Kosiba as its new deputy director. The announcement, made Friday, follows months of uncertainty and high-profile turnover inside one of the most sensitive agencies in the U.S. national security apparatus.
Kosiba’s selection was approved by President Donald Trump after being put forward by Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth and Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard. The move restores an experienced hand to a role that oversees daily operations, civilian workforce management, and the execution of the NSA’s signals intelligence strategy.
Return After Five Years Outside Government
Kosiba is no stranger to the agency. He previously spent decades serving in various cyber and surveillance units, including positions tied to offensive network operations. After leaving government service in 2021, he shifted to the private sector as chief executive of a cybersecurity firm.
In a written statement, Kosiba described the appointment as a return to familiar territory, saying it was an honor to come “back home” and continue a mission he has been connected to for more than 30 years.
Appointment Follows Aborted Pick
The deputy director post has been vacant since last year and became the subject of political tension following a failed appointment attempt in August. The NSA had briefly moved to select policymaker Joe Francescon, but the White House withdrew support after criticism from conservative activist Laura Loomer, who questioned his political affiliations and family ties.
Loomer has wielded influence over recent management changes at the agency, including the abrupt dismissal of former NSA Director Gen. Timothy Haugh and his deputy, Wendy Noble, in April.
Agency Entering Transition Period
Kosiba assumes the post as the NSA prepares for further leadership adjustments. Army Lt. Gen. Joshua Rudd, nominated to serve as both NSA director and head of U.S. Cyber Command, is scheduled to testify before Senate committees next week as part of his confirmation process.
Internally, the agency faces morale issues and workforce reductions driven by broader government spending cuts and restructuring efforts. Kosiba will be tasked with stabilizing operations and guiding personnel through what senior officials have described as a pivotal year for U.S. intelligence capabilities.
Career Spanning NCIS, FBI, and Cyber Operations
Before joining the NSA in 2007, Kosiba worked with the Naval Criminal Investigative Service and later the FBI, where he handled computer network and cyber-focused investigations. His NSA tenure included leadership roles at the agency’s largest off-site facility in Georgia as well as work within specialized units dedicated to penetrating foreign networks.
Kosiba’s appointment fills one of the agency’s most consequential civilian leadership roles, responsible for navigating complex legal and political considerations that accompany digital surveillance and national security operations.
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