President Obama is set to appoint Vice Admiral Michael Rogers to replace Gen. Keith Alexander as the head of the National Security Agency (NSA), the Pentagon announced Thursday. Rogers is currently the head of U.S. Cyber Command.
Rogers, who is a graduate of Auburn University’s Raymond J. Harbert College of Business, will take over the post in the midst of a trying period for the NSA. The fallout from Edward Snowden’s surveillance disclosures will likely continue as more information about the NSA’s domestic spying tactics is expected to drip out in the coming months.
But Defense Secretary Chuck Hagal believes Rogers is up to the task, hailing his “extraordinary and unique qualifications” in a statement released by the Pentagon Thursday.
“I am… confident that Admiral Rogers has the wisdom to help balance the demands of security, privacy, and liberty in our digital age,” Hagel said.
Intelligence community observers believe two of Rogers’ main challenges will be boosting morale in the embattled agency, and convincing the American people and members of Congress that the agency can be trusted.
Interestingly, Auburn University is one of four colleges that was selected last September for the NSA’s National Centers of Academic Excellence in Cyber Operations Program.
“Auburn has devoted significant resources and interdisciplinary rigor across campus to expand new cyber initiatives and extensive collaboration with external organizations,” said Retired Lt. Gen. Ronald Burgess, Jr., Auburn’s Senior Counsel for National Security Programs, Cyber Programs, and Military Affairs. “We are extremely pleased that NSA has recognized our efforts by selecting Auburn University for the program. It is important to the nation, and we want to be a part of the strategic way ahead and feel we can contribute to this national need.”
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