Federal 100: Gen Paul Nakasone
![](https://cdn.nextgov.com/media/img/cd/2021/12/11/Nakasone/860x394.png?1639276872)
![](/media/ps360/GIG/FCWNow/People/Fed100/2020/Nakasone.png)
Name:
Gen. Paul Nakasone
Title:
Director, National Security Agency, and Commander
Organization:
U.S. Cyber Command
Heavy is the head that wears two crowns. Under Nakasone’s leadership, U.S. Cyber Command has leveraged its new authorities under National Security Presidential Memoranda 13 to undertake offensive cyber actions against adversaries such as Russia and Iran, while NSA has established a new Cybersecurity Directorate. Both organizations have become critical cogs in the nation’s security strategy at a time when intelligence agencies have warned that multiple countries may be seeking to interfere in the 2020 elections. Nakasone’s voice will also be greatly influential as the Defense Department decides whether to split the dual-hat arrangement for leadership of NSA and Cyber Command.
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