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The Trump administration has decided to maintain the dual-hat leadership structure for U.S. Cyber Command and the NSA, shelving plans to split the roles. The decision was made due to the complexity and time required to separate the organizations, as well as strong bipartisan support for the current arrangement. Lt. Gen. William Hartman is expected to be confirmed as the next leader of both agencies following the dismissal of his predecessor.
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U.S. Cyber Command and the National Security Agency have been without a permanent leader for over seven months following the dismissal of Air Force Gen. Timothy Haugh and his deputy, a move that has unsettled both organizations. Army Lt. Gen. Joshua Rudd, currently serving as the No. 2 at U.S. Indo-Pacific Command and lacking direct cyber or signals intelligence experience, has emerged as a leading candidate for the dual-hat leadership role, though the selection process remains fluid and contentious. Key leadership positions at both agencies remain unfilled, with Marine Corps Maj. Gen. Lorna Mahlock and Brig. Gen. Matthew Lennox identified as likely appointees to senior roles once the top post is settled. This leadership vacuum comes as the Trump administration’s official cyber policy calls for stronger deterrence against foreign cyber threats, particularly from China, but President Trump himself has publicly downplayed the significance of such threats. Senior administration officials have highlighted the need to respond to campaigns like those attributed to Salt Typhoon and Volt Typhoon, which target U.S. telecommunications and critical infrastructure, yet the president’s dismissive stance has created a disconnect between policy rhetoric and executive action. The ongoing instability at the helm of the nation’s top cyber agencies raises concerns about the United States’ ability to effectively coordinate and respond to escalating foreign cyber operations.
Jun 29, 2026
U.S. Cyber Command’s Cyber National Mission Force (CNMF) removed Air Force Lt. Col. **Jason Gargan**, a joint task force commander focused on operations against **Russia**, after he was “relieved for cause” following disagreements over operations with CNMF leadership, according to people familiar with the matter. Gargan was reassigned elsewhere within CNMF and is expected to retire by the end of 2026; the move was described as unusual for CNMF, where underperforming leaders are typically rotated rather than dismissed. The personnel action occurred amid broader senior-level churn at Cyber Command, which has reportedly been without a Senate-confirmed leader for an extended period, and as CNMF chief Maj. Gen. **Lorna Mahlock** was nominated to become Cyber Command’s next deputy chief. Separately, the **National Security Agency (NSA)** appointed intelligence community veteran **Timothy Kosiba** as deputy director with presidential approval. Reporting highlighted Kosiba’s background in network warfare and offensive cyber roles (including **Tailored Access Operations**-linked positions) and senior leadership posts supporting foreign signals intelligence and cybersecurity missions; Acting NSA and Cyber Command head **William Hartman** publicly endorsed the appointment as supporting NSA’s mission execution.
Jun 29, 2026
President Donald Trump has nominated Army Lt. Gen. Joshua Rudd, currently the deputy chief of U.S. Indo-Pacific Command, to serve as the new leader of both U.S. Cyber Command and the National Security Agency. This nomination comes after an extended vacancy in the dual-hat leadership role, which has persisted for over eight months following the abrupt firing of the previous chief and deputy, reportedly influenced by far-right activist Laura Loomer. The administration bypassed other potential candidates, including the current acting chief, before selecting Rudd, who has a background in special operations but limited direct experience in cyberwarfare or intelligence. The Senate will now consider Rudd's nomination, with oversight from both the Armed Services and Intelligence committees. Lawmakers have indicated that while deep technical expertise in cyber operations is beneficial, it is not strictly required for the leadership position. Rudd's appointment is notable for placing a leader with extensive field and command experience, but not a traditional cyber background, at the helm of the Pentagon’s primary digital warfighting and intelligence organizations. The agencies have been operating without a permanent leader since April, impacting continuity at a critical time for U.S. cyber defense and intelligence operations.
Jun 29, 2026