The New York Times reported last week that President Obama has decided to keep the National Security Agency (NSA) and Cyber Command under a single commander. This decision comes amidst a host of concerns over giving a single leader too much authority.
With current dual-head General Keith Alexander planning to retire next year, President Obama will have to select a military commander to replace him.
According to The Times, although Advisory Committee members submitted reports recommending the organizations be split, National Security Council (NSC) spokeswoman, Caitlin Hayden stated that President Obama decided:
[K]eeping the positions of NSA director and Cyber Command together as one, dual-hatted position is the most effective approach to accomplishing both agencies’ missions. . . . [T]he aim [of this decision is to] unif[y] the leadership of the organizations responsible for signals intelligence and defending the nation in cyberspace. NSA plays a unique role in supporting Cyber Command’s mission, providing critical support for target access and development, including linguistics, analysts, cryptanalytic capabilities and sophisticated technological infrastructure.
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