NSA alum returns to serve as deputy director

The National Security Agency has named its deputy director, filling a job left vacant amid months of leadership vacuums and staff turnover. 

Tim Kosiba was approved by top officials to serve as the civilian lead at NSA, according to a Friday announcement. In the role, he is charged with directing operations, managing civilian leadership, setting policy and overseeing the execution of the agency’s strategy.

Kosiba, who has worked at NSA and the FBI, was vetted last month, a person familiar with the matter told Nextgov/FCW.

Initially, Joe Francescon, who served on the National Security Council in President Donald Trump’s first term, was set to be named to the position. But far-right activist Laura Loomer, whose influence over NSA-leader picks led to the firing of its previous director and other top officials, criticized the move, claiming that Francescon donated to a Democrat in Congress and that his wife had ties to China. Francescon ultimately was not given the job.

“It is an honor to come back home and serve as the National Security Agency’s next deputy director,” Kosiba said in a statement. “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.”

Kosiba began his federal career with the Naval Criminal Investigative Service, then joined the FBI in 1996. He moved to NSA in 2007, serving in senior technical leadership roles across cyber operations, including as technical director for Joint Functional Component Command for Network Warfare, a precursor group to U.S. Cyber Command. 

He held leadership positions within NSA’s Tailored Access Operations, a highly classified division responsible for offensive cyber operations and gaining covert access to foreign computer networks. His most recent NSA jobs were chief of computer network operations and deputy commander of NSA Georgia, the agency’s largest field site.

In the new role, Kosiba will contend with declining morale inside the spy agency, as well as hasty workforce cuts executed by the Trump administration last year.

Next week, Army Lt. Gen. Joshua Rudd — nominated to head NSA and Cyber Command in a dual-hatted capacity — is to testify before the Senate Armed Services Committee. And in coming weeks, the agency is expected to staff up acting leadership in its cybersecurity division, The Record reported Thursday.