Michael S. Rogers

Michael S. Rogers
Rogers in 2014
17th Director of the National Security Agency
Incumbent
Assumed office April 3, 2014
President	Barack Obama
Deputy	Richard Ledgett
Preceded by	Keith B. Alexander
Personal details
Born	October 31, 1959 Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
Occupation	Naval officer
Profession	Intelligence officer
Military service
Allegiance	United States of America
Service/branch	United States Navy
Years of service	1981–present
Rank	Admiral
Commands	U.S. Cyber Command National Security Agency U.S. Fleet Cyber Command 10th Fleet

Michael S. Rogers (born October 31, 1959) is a United States Navy admiral who serves as Commander of the U.S. Cyber Command, Director of the National Security Agency, and Chief of the Central Security Service since April 3, 2014. Prior to that, Rogers served as the Commander of the Tenth Fleet and Commander of the U.S. Fleet Cyber Command.^[1][2]

Early life and education

Rogers is a native of Chicago; he graduated from New Trier High School in 1977.^[3] He is a graduate of Auburn University (1981) and the Naval War College.^[4]

Career

Rogers speaking to sailors at the Center for Information Dominance in January 2012.

Rogers received his commission through the Naval Reserve Officers Training Corps (NROTC) program and has served in the United States Navy since graduating from Auburn University in 1981. He started his career as a Surface Warfare Officer working in naval gunfire support operations off Grenada, Beirut, and maritime surveillance operations off El Salvador.^[5] In 1986, he was selected for transfer from Unrestricted Line Officer to Restricted Line Officer and re-designation as a cryptology officer.^[6]

During the 2003 U.S. invasion of Iraq, Rogers joined the military's Joint Staff, which works for the Joint Chiefs of Staff, where he specialized in computer network attacks. From 2007 onward he served as director of intelligence for the military's Pacific Command. In 2009 he became director of intelligence for the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and was subsequently named commander of U.S. Fleet Cyber Command and commander of the U.S. 10th Fleet, with responsibility for all of the Navy's cyberwarfare efforts.^[5] As such, Rogers was the first restricted line officer to serve as a numbered fleet commander and the first Information Dominance Warfare (IDC) officer to achieve the rank of vice admiral.^[7]

In January 2014, the Obama Administration announced Rogers' nomination as director of the National Security Agency and the commander of the US offensive cyberoperations unit in the Department of Defense. Rogers succeeded General Keith B. Alexander, who served as the NSA director for nine years,^[8][9][10] and became the first IDC officer to achieve the rank of admiral. Although the NSA directorship does not require Senate approval, Rogers had to be confirmed by the Senate to head United States Cyber Command,^[11] for which the Senate unanimously confirmed him.

In his first public remarks as NSA director, Rogers stated that he believed that NSA whistleblower Edward Snowden was "probably not" working for a foreign intelligence agency, despite frequent speculation and assertion by the NSA's allies to the contrary. Rogers added: "He clearly believes in what he's doing. I question that; I don't agree with it. I fundamentally disagree with what he did. I believe it was wrong; I believe it was illegal."^[12]

Military decorations

	Navy Information Dominance Warfare Officer Badge
	Navy Surface Warfare Officer Badge
	United States Cyber Command Badge
	National Security Agency Badge

	Navy Distinguished Service Medal
	Defense Superior Service Medal with two bronze oak leaf clusters
	Meritorious Service Medal with two gold award stars
	Joint Service Commendation Medal
	Navy Commendation Medal with award star
	Joint Meritorious Unit Award with three oak leaf clusters
	Navy Unit Commendation
	Navy Meritorious Unit Commendation with two bronze service stars
	Navy "E" Ribbon
	Navy Expeditionary Medal with three service stars
	National Defense Service Medal with service star
	Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal with service star
	Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal
	Global War on Terrorism Service Medal
	Military Outstanding Volunteer Service Medal
	Navy Sea Service Deployment Ribbon with 2 service stars
	Navy & Marine Corps Overseas Service Ribbon with 4 service stars
	Navy Rifle Marksmanship Ribbon
	Navy Expert Pistol Shot Medal

References

1. "Navy cyber warfare chief is Obama's pick to lead NSA". Los Angeles Times. 27 January 2014. Retrieved 15 August 2015.
2. https://fas.org/irp/congress/2014_hr/selva-rogers.pdf
3. "New Trier’s Rogers talks about U.S. Fleet Cyber Command". Chicago Sun-Times. Retrieved 26 January 2014.
4. Peterson, Andrea (October 16, 2013). "Meet the man who could be next in line to control the NSA’s spying apparatus". Retrieved March 13, 2014.
5. Sanger, David; Shanker, Thom (30 January 2014). "N.S.A. Choice Is Navy Expert on Cyberwar". The New York Times. Retrieved 30 January 2014.
6. "U.S. Navy bio". U.S. Navy. Retrieved 26 January 2014.
7. Guimont, Nathan L. (2 June 2012). "10th Fleet Commander Visits Navy Linguists". Navy.mil. U.S. Navy. Retrieved 3 August 2014.
8. Nakashima, Ellen (25 January 2014). "Obama signs off on nomination of Rogers as NSA director". Washington Post. Retrieved 30 January 2014.
9. Sanger, David (30 January 2014). "Vice Admiral to Be Named N.S.A. Director". New York Times. Retrieved 30 January 2014.
10. Hattem, Julian (30 January 2014). "Obama to name new NSA director". The Hill. Retrieved 30 January 2014.
11. Ackerman, Spencer (30 January 2014). "Vice-admiral Michael Rogers to take command of embattled NSA". The Guardian. Retrieved 31 January 2014.
12. Ackerman, Spencer (3 June 2014). "NSA chief Michael Rogers: Edward Snowden 'probably not' a foreign spy". The Guardian. Retrieved 16 December 2015.

External links