President Donald Trump recently approved Joseph Francescon to serve as the National Security Agency’s (NSA) 21st deputy director and senior civilian leader.
Francescon will be tasked with supporting the U.S. defense and intelligence enterprise in the formulation of national security policies, overseeing strategy execution, guiding operations, and managing the senior civilian leadership.
“Joe has served our country with distinction at the highest levels of national security, from the Intelligence Community to the Pentagon and overseas,” Tulsi Gabbard, National Intelligence director, and Pete Hegseth, secretary of defense, said a joint statement.” With his wealth of experience countering foreign threats, Joe is exceptionally qualified to lead the next generation of American cybersecurity experts, spearheading efforts to outmaneuver evolving threats and counter our adversaries.”
Francescon began his career in government in 2008 as a Department of Defense civilian within the National Security Agency. He has served as Pentagon deputy chief of staff and as deputy assistant secretary of defense for Special Operations and Combatting Terrorism. At the NSA, he has served as Counterterrorism director and as Counterterrorism and Transnational Threats Directorate at the National Security Council acting senior director.
Prior to government work, he served as chief external affairs officer at defense contractor DZYNE Technologies.
“I am deeply honored and filled with excitement to return home to the National Security Agency as Deputy Director, where my career began,” said Francescon. “… I am eager to lead NSA’s exceptional team in safeguarding our nation and countering global threats to protect the American people.”