The National Security Agency on Friday announced Tim Kosiba as its deputy director, nine months after the Trump administration axed his predecessor — reportedly at the behest of a far-right activist.
Kosiba, a veteran of the NSA with a 33-year career in federal government, according to a press release, was previously deputy commander of the cyberespionage agency’s largest field office, which is located in Georgia. He was also the deputy director of the agency’s Commercial Solutions Center, among other cyber roles in the FBI and Naval Criminal Investigative Service. Early in this career, he served as technical director for the Joint Functional Component Command for Network Warfare.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard tapped Kosiba for his new role, the release said, with President Donald Trump’s approval.
The announcement comes after months of leadership turmoil for NSA and the U.S. military’s Cyber Command. The Trump administration ousted two of its top-most officials last year, leaving the dual-hat organizations without a Senate-confirmed leader for nine months. It also recently soured on its previous pick for NSA deputy director before choosing Kosiba.
“It is an honor to come back home and serve as the National Security Agency’s next deputy director,” Kosiba said in the NSA press release. “As it has been for more than 30 years, my deep commitment to our mission continues, and I am excited to once again serve alongside the agency’s incredible workforce.”
In April, the Trump administration fired NSA and U.S. Cyber Command’s top official, Air Force Gen. Timothy Haugh and NSA deputy director Wendy Noble after far-right conspiracy theorist Laura Loomer claimed they were disloyal. Haugh denied her accusations during a 60 Minutes interview last fall.
The administration also tapped Joe Francescon — a former NSA analyst and national security official during Trump’s first term — to take over the number two position at the NSA, but turned him down in December, The Record reported. Loomer also criticized Francescon, accusing him of having donated $500 to a Democratic lawmaker in 2023.
Kosiba is now expected to take on the role, which does not require Senate approval. As the highest-ranking civilian at the intelligence agency, the deputy director oversees the management of senior civilian leadership, policy, and overall operations.
“I am confident that Tim will continue to drive and guide us in our critical foreign signals intelligence and cybersecurity missions,” Lt. Gen. William Hartman, the acting commander of Cybercom and NSA, said in the release.
DefenseScoop previously reported that Trump nominated Army Lt. Gen. Joshua Rudd — the deputy commander for U.S. Indo-Pacific Command with a special operations background, but little known cyber experience — as Cybercom commander and NSA director. The Senate Armed Services Committee is scheduled to hold his confirmation hearing next week.