WASHINGTON DC – After eight years as the longest-serving leader of the National Security Agency, Gen. Keith Alexander will be making his exit sometime in spring 2014, according to a report.
Alexander, who has been in charge of the NSA since August 2005, is expected to depart the agency in March or April of next year, US officials told Reuters on the condition of anonymity.
His successor could be Vice Admiral Michael S. Rogers, Commander, U.S. Fleet Cyber Command, sources speculate. Since becoming a flag officer in 2007, Rogers has also been the director for Intelligence for both the Joint Chiefs of Staff and U.S. Pacific Command. But a final decision has not been made by President Obama.
The past year of Alexander?s reign as chief spook has been marked by tumultuous revelations thanks to documents leaked by former NSA contractor Edward Snowden. The documents reveal widespread domestic and foreign spying by the agency involving the metadata and content of phone calls, e-mails, and other electronic communications.
Alexander, who had previously announced that he would retire next spring, apparently has narrowed that window. His civilian deputy, John “Chris” Inglis, is expected to resign by the end of this year.
Alexander has been a vocal defender of his agency’s actions to Congress and the public as the ongoing revelations from documents leaked by Snowden continue to raise fears of an abuse of power in the NSA?s Prism spy program, which has also been aimed at U.S. citizens.
