Michael S. Rogers

Michael S. Rogers
Admiral Michael S. Rogers, USN
17th Director of the National Security Agency
Incumbent
Assumed office
April 3, 2014
President Barack Obama
Deputy Richard Ledgett
Preceded by Keith B. Alexander
Personal details
Born 1959/1960 (age 55–56)
Profession Intelligence officer
Military service
Allegiance  United States of America
Service/branch  United States Navy
Years of service 1981-present
Rank Admiral
Commands U.S. Cyber Command
National Security Agency
U.S. Fleet Cyber Command
10th Fleet

Michael S. Rogers (born c. 1959) is a United States Navy admiral who serves as Commander of the U.S. Cyber Command, Director of the National Security Agency, and Chief of the Central Security Service since April 3, 2014. Prior to that, Rogers served as the Commander of the Tenth Fleet and Commander of the U.S. Fleet Cyber Command.[1]

Early life and education

Rogers is a native of Chicago; he graduated from New Trier High School in 1977.[2] He is a graduate of Auburn University (1981) and the Naval War College.[3]

Career

Then-Vice Admiral Rogers addresses sailors at Center for Information Dominance.

Rogers received his commission through the Naval Reserve Officers Training Corps (NROTC) program and has served in the United States Navy since graduating from Auburn University in 1981. He started his career working in naval gunfire support operations off Grenada, Beirut, and maritime surveillance operations off El Salvador.[4] In 1986, he was selected for re-designation to cryptology.[5]

During the 2003 U.S. invasion of Iraq, Rogers joined the military’s Joint Staff, which works for the Joint Chiefs of Staff, where he specialized in computer network attacks. From 2007 onward he served as director of intelligence for the military’s Pacific Command. In 2009 he became director of intelligence for the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and then was named commander of the U.S. Fleet Cyber Command and commander of U.S. 10th Fleet, with responsibility for all of the Navy’s cyberwarfare efforts.[4] As such, Rogers was the first restricted line officer to serve as a numbered fleet commander and the first Information Dominance Warfare (IDC) officer to achieve the rank of vice admiral.[6]

In January 2014, the Obama Administration announced Rogers nomination as director of the National Security Agency and the commander of the US offensive cyberoperations unit in the Department of Defense. Rogers succeeded General Keith B. Alexander, who served as the NSA director for nine years,[7][8][9] and became the first IDC officer to achieve the rank of admiral. Although the NSA directorship does not require Senate approval, Rogers had to be confirmed by the Senate to head United States Cyber Command,[10] which the Senate unanimously confirmed him for.

In his first public remarks as NSA director, Rogers stated that he believed that NSA whistleblower Edward Snowden was "probably not" working for a foreign intelligence agency, despite frequent speculation and assertion by the NSA's allies to the contrary.[10] Rogers added: "He clearly believes in what he’s doing. I question that; I don’t agree with it. I fundamentally disagree with what he did. I believe it was wrong; I believe it was illegal."

Military decorations

Rogers wears the ribbons of the Navy Distinguished Service Medal, three awards of the Defense Superior Service Medal, three awards of the Meritorious Service Medal, the Joint Service Commendation Medal, at least one award of the Navy Commendation Medal, four awards of the Joint Meritorious Unit Award, the Navy Unit Commendation, three awards of the Navy Meritorious Unit Commendation, the Navy "E" Ribbon, and four awards of the Navy Expeditionary Medal, as well as the Information Dominance Officer, Surface Warfare Officer, and Office of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Identification Badges.

References

  1. ↑ http://www.latimes.com/nation/la-na-nsa-chief-20140128,0,7074152.story#axzz2x8EEmnP6
  2. ↑ "New Trier’s Rogers talks about U.S. Fleet Cyber Command". Chicago Sun-Times. Retrieved 26 January 2014.
  3. ↑ Peterson, Andrea (October 16, 2013). "Meet the man who could be next in line to control the NSA’s spying apparatus". Retrieved March 13, 2014.
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 Sanger, David; Shanker, Thom (30 January 2014). "N.S.A. Choice Is Navy Expert on Cyberwar". The New York Times. Retrieved 30 January 2014.
  5. ↑ "U.S. Navy bio". U.S. Navy. Retrieved 26 January 2014.
  6. ↑ Guimont, Nathan L. (2 June 2012). "10th Fleet Commander Visits Navy Linguists". Navy.mil. U.S. Navy. Retrieved 3 August 2014.
  7. ↑ Nakashima, Ellen (25 January 2014). "Obama signs off on nomination of Rogers as NSA director". Washington Post. Retrieved 30 January 2014.
  8. ↑ Sanger, David (30 January 2014). "Vice Admiral to Be Named N.S.A. Director". New York Times. Retrieved 30 January 2014.
  9. ↑ Hattem, Julian (30 January 2014). "Obama to name new NSA director". The Hill. Retrieved 30 January 2014.
  10. ↑ 10.0 10.1 Ackerman, Spencer (30 January 2014). "Vice-admiral Michael Rogers to take command of embattled NSA". The Guardian. Retrieved 31 January 2014.
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