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Paul Nakasone
3rd Commander of United States Cyber Command
In office 4 May 2018 – 2 February 2024
President	Donald Trump Joe Biden
Preceded by	Michael S. Rogers
Succeeded by	Timothy D. Haugh
18th Director of the National Security Agency
In office 4 May 2018 – 2 February 2024
President	Donald Trump Joe Biden
Deputy	George Barnes
Preceded by	Michael S. Rogers
Succeeded by	Timothy D. Haugh
Personal details
Born	Paul Miki Nakasone (1963-11-19) 19 November 1963 (age 61) White Bear Lake, Minnesota, U.S.
Spouse	Susan Nakasone
Children	4
Education	Saint John's University (BA) University of Southern California (MA) National Intelligence University (MA) United States Army War College (MA)
Military service
Allegiance	United States
Branch/service	United States Army
Years of service	1986–2024
Rank	General
Commands	United States Army Cyber Command Second United States Army Director of Intelligence, J2 International Security Assistance Force
Battles/wars	War in Afghanistan Iraq War
Awards	Defense Distinguished Service Medal Army Distinguished Service Medal (2) Defense Superior Service Medal (4) Legion of Merit Bronze Star George Washington Spymaster Award
Paul M. Nakasone's voice Nakasone's opening statement at his confirmation hearing to be director of the National Security Agency Recorded 15 March 2018

Paul Miki Nakasone (Japanese: 仲宗根ミキ Nakasone Miki, born 19 November 1963) is a retired four-star general in the United States Army who served as the commander of United States Cyber Command. He concurrently served as the director of the National Security Agency and as chief of the Central Security Service. Nakasone took command of the United States Second Army and Army Cyber Command in October 2016, until the Second Army's inactivation in March 2017. In May 2018, he became head of the National Security Agency, the Central Security Service and the United States Cyber Command.

Early life and education

Born in White Bear Lake, Minnesota. He is the son of Edwin M. Nakasone, a second-generation Japanese American and a retired United States Army colonel who served in the Military Intelligence Service during World War II, and Mary Anne Nakasone (née Costello). His paternal grandparents came from Misato village in the Nakagami District, Okinawa.

Nakasone grew up in White Bear Lake, Minnesota, and attended White Bear High School. He is married to Susan S. (née Sternberg), and has four (4) children. Nakasone attended St. John's University, where he received a commission as military intelligence officer in 1986 through the Army Reserve Officers' Training Corps program. Nakasone also attended the University of Southern California earning a M.S. in Systems Management, the National Defense Intelligence College, and the United States Army War College, earning Master's degrees from those institutions as well. He also is a graduate of the United States Army Command and General Staff College.

Military career

Nakasone has commanded at the company, battalion, and brigade levels. He also served in foreign assignments in Iraq, Afghanistan and Korea, and has served as a senior intelligence officer at the battalion, division, and corps levels. Nakasone served on the Joint Chiefs of Staff as deputy director for trans-regional policy in 2012 when he was promoted to the rank of brigadier general and previously served as a staff officer for General Keith B. Alexander.

Prior to promotion to lieutenant general in 2016, Nakasone was the deputy commanding general of United States Army Cyber Command and later commander of the Cyber National Mission Force at Cyber Command. Nakasone has twice served as a staff officer for the Joint Chiefs of Staff and was the director of intelligence, J2, for the International Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan. On 14 October 2016, he took command of the United States Second Army and United States Army Cyber Command. Nakasone was also given control of United States Cyber Command's Joint Task Force-ARES, a task-force designed to coordinate electronic counter-terrorist activities against the Islamic State. He served as commander of the Second Army until it was inactivated for the fourth time in its history on 31 March 2017, and continued to serve as commander of United States Army Cyber Command.

In January 2018, it was reported that Nakasone was on the list of potential replacements for outgoing NSA Director Michael S. Rogers. In February 2018, he was nominated for promotion to general. In April 2018, Nakasone was unanimously confirmed by the United States Senate as director of the National Security Agency and head of the United States Cyber Command. He was also promoted to the rank of general. In May 2022, Nakasone was asked to remain as the head of U.S. Cyber Command and the National Security Agency until 2023. In those roles, he has attracted attention for disclosing that the U.S. government took unspecified cyber offensive action against ransomware gangs operating outside the United States that targeted American infrastructure, as well as against Russian targets associated with the invasion of Ukraine.

Retirement and later life

Nakasone retired from the military on 1 February 2024. General Timothy D. Haugh succeeded him as Director of the NSA and head of Cyber Command.

On 14 February 2024, Nakasone published an opinion article in the Washington Post, arguing for Congress to re-approve the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act, which was due to expire in spring 2024. Congress reauthorized the bill on 20 April, hours before it would have expired.

In May 2024, Nakasone was named Founding Director of Vanderbilt University's new Institute for National Defense and Global Security. Nakasone will also hold a Research Professorship within Vanderbilt's School of Engineering, as well as serving as special advisor to the chancellor. Also in May 2024, Nakasone was elected to the board of trustees of Saint John's University, his alma mater. Nakasone was awarded an honorary Doctor of Laws degree from Dartmouth College in 9 June 2024.

Nakasone joined the board of OpenAI in June 2024.

Awards and decorations

Left Side

Badge Combat Action Badge 1st row Defense Distinguished Service Medal 2nd row Army Distinguished Service Medal with oak leaf cluster Defense Superior Service Medal with three oak leaf clusters Legion of Merit 3rd row Bronze Star Medal Defense Meritorious Service Medal with oak leaf cluster Meritorious Service Medal with four oak leaf clusters 4th row Army Commendation Medal Joint Service Achievement Medal with oak leaf cluster Army Achievement Medal with four oak leaf clusters 5th row National Defense Service Medal with service star Afghanistan Campaign Medal Iraq Campaign Medal 6th row Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal Global War on Terrorism Service Medal Korea Defense Service Medal 7th row Army Service Ribbon Army Overseas Service Ribbon with award numeral 5 NATO Medal for service with ISAF 8th row Order of the Rising Sun with grand cordon Badge Joint Chiefs of Staff Identification Badge

Right Side
Army Military Intelligence Corps Distinctive Unit Insignia Joint Meritorious Unit Award V Corps Combat Service Identification Badge

Other awards

Overseas Service Bar (x4)

	National Security Agency Badge
	United States Cyber Command Badge

References

1. Garamone, Jim (3 February 2024). "Cyber Command Flag Passed to Air Force General at Fort Meade Ceremony". U.S. Department of Defense. Retrieved 5 February 2024.
2. ^ "Questionnaire for Completion by Presidential Nominees" (PDF). United States Senate Select Committee on Intelligence (SSCI). 2018. Archived from the original (PDF) on 15 February 2022. Retrieved 15 February 2022.
3. ^ Kuroda, Janelle (10 February 2012). "Japanese American Promoted To Rank Of Brigadier General, Continuing Family Legacy Of Service". Japanese American Veterans Association. Retrieved 13 May 2017.
4. ^ "Person Details for Paul Miki Nakasone, "Minnesota Birth Index, 1935–2002"". FamilySearch.org. Retrieved 7 June 2017.
5. Nakashima, Ellen (24 April 2018). "Senate confirms Paul Nakasone to lead the NSA, U.S. Cyber Command". The Washington Post.
6. "Senate Confirms Nakasone to Head NSA, Cyber Command". 24 April 2018.
7. ^ "Army Cyber welcomes new commander". United States Army. 14 October 2016. Retrieved 13 May 2017.
8. ^ Todd Lopez, C. (3 April 2017). "Second Army cases colors for fourth time". United States Army. Retrieved 13 May 2017.
9. U.S. Cyber Command Change of Command/Command Elevation Ceremony
10. Nakashima, Ellen (1 April 2018). "Incoming NSA chief has a reputation for winning 'all the important fights.' Russia will be his biggest test yet". The Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved 7 December 2021.
11. "Minutes Regular Meetings of the City Council of the City of White Bear Lake, Minnesota" (PDF). whitebearlake.org. 24 January 2012. Retrieved 7 December 2021.
12. Graff, Garrett M. (13 October 2020). "The Man Who Speaks Softly—and Commands a Big Cyber Army". Wired. ISSN 1059-1028. Retrieved 1 December 2020.
13. "Son of WWII nisei receives promotion at Pentagon". Honolulu Star Advertiser. 27 April 2013.
14. "Army general (and White Bear grad) leads cyber command". White Bear Press. 2 November 2016. Retrieved 13 May 2017.
15. "Paul Nakasone Promoted to Major General as Commander of Cyber Mission Force". Rafu Shimpo. 16 June 2015. Retrieved 13 May 2017.
16. Ryunosuke Megumi (2018). "米軍と沖縄移民の絆：ナカソネ大将" [Bond between the United States Armed Forces and Okinawan immigrants: General Nakasone] (PDF). Gekkan Hanada (Monthly Hanada). p. 275. Archived from the original (PDF) on 7 October 2020. Retrieved 7 October 2020.
17. ^ "Lt. Gen. Paul M. Nakasone Commanding General, U.S. Army Cyber Command" (PDF). US Army Cyber Command. 6 October 2016. Archived from the original (PDF) on 25 January 2017. Retrieved 13 May 2017.
18. ^ "White Bear native earns elite military post". White Bear Press. 6 March 2012. Retrieved 13 May 2017.
19. "Army to promote son of Hawaii-born WWII vet". Stars and Stripes. 17 September 2016. Retrieved 13 May 2017.
20. https://www.intelligence.senate.gov/sites/default/files/documents/q-pnakasone-031518.pdf
21. "Commencement program, USC (106th: 1989: Alumni Memorial Park)". United States Army. Retrieved 20 November 2023.
22. "USAWC in the news March 27". United States Army. Retrieved 13 May 2017.
23. Kimball, Joe (7 June 2011). "White Bear native Col. Paul Nakasone awaiting Senate confirmation as Army general". Minneapolis Post. Retrieved 13 May 2017.
24. Killeen, Mike (11 December 2015). "Cyberspace watchdog – SJU graduate heads up important military command". Retrieved 13 May 2017.
25. "PN1618 – Nomination of Maj. Gen. Paul M. Nakasone for Army, 114th Congress (2015–2016)". United States Congress. 15 September 2016. Retrieved 13 May 2017.
26. "Nakasone Assigned to Cyber National Mission Force". Afcea International. Signal Magazine. 19 June 2014. Retrieved 13 May 2017.
27. Hoffman, Mary-Louise (19 October 2016). "Lt. Gen. Paul Nakasone Takes Charge of Army Cyber Command". ExecutiveGov. Retrieved 13 May 2017.
28. Martin Matishak; Cory Bennet (5 January 2018). "NSA's Rogers to retire this spring". Politico.
29. "PN1594 – Nomination of Lt. Gen. Paul M. Nakasone for Army, 115th Congress (2017–2018)". United States Congress. Retrieved 9 February 2017.
30. Martin Matishak (24 April 2018). "Senate confirms Trump's pick for NSA, Cyber Command". Politico.
31. Matichak, Martin; Temple-Raston, Dina (5 May 2022). "Nakasone has been asked to remain at helm of NSA, Cyber Command". The Record by Recorded Future. Retrieved 7 June 2022.
32. Barnes, Julian E. (5 December 2021). "U.S. Military Has Acted Against Ransomware Groups, General Acknowledges". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 11 June 2022.
33. Kagubare, Ines (1 June 2022). "Cyber Command chief confirms US took part in offensive cyber operations". The Hill. Retrieved 11 June 2022.
34. "GEN Nakasone's Legacy: Defending the Nation and Securing the Future through People and Partnerships". Retrieved 3 June 2024.
35. Nakasone, Paul (14 February 2024). "I was head of the NSA. In a world of threats, this is my biggest worry". The Washington Post. Retrieved 3 June 2024.
36. "Retired General Paul Nakasone named founding director of Institute for National Defense and Global Security". Vanderbilt University Research News. 8 May 2024. Retrieved 3 June 2024.
37. Rajkowski, Frank (20 May 2024). "Retired General Paul Nakasone '86 staying busy with new position at Vanderbilt, posthumous Purple Heart presentation". Retrieved 9 June 2024.
38. "Announcing the 2024 Honorary Degree Recipients". Dartmouth.edu. 11 April 2024. Retrieved 10 June 2024.
39. Peters, Jay (13 June 2024). "Former head of NSA joins OpenAI board". The Verge. Retrieved 14 June 2024.
40. "令和6年秋の外国人叙勲 受章者名簿" (PDF). Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan. Retrieved 5 November 2024.

External links

• Appearances on C-SPAN

v t e Directors of the National Security Agency
Canine Samford Frost Blake Carter Gayler Phillips Allen Inman Faurer Odom Studeman McConnell Minihan Hayden Alexander Rogers Nakasone Haugh

v t e Commanders of United States Cyber Command
Alexander Rogers Nakasone Haugh

• 1963 births
• American people of Okinawan descent
• American military personnel of Japanese descent
• College of Saint Benedict and Saint John's University alumni
• Directors of the National Security Agency
• Honorary officers of the Order of Australia
• Living people
• National Intelligence University alumni
• Military personnel from Saint Paul, Minnesota
• Recipients of the Defense Superior Service Medal
• Recipients of the Legion of Merit
• United States Army War College alumni
• United States Army Command and General Staff College alumni
• United States Army generals
• University of Southern California alumni
• Recipients of the Defense Distinguished Service Medal
• Grand Cordons of the Order of the Rising Sun
• Recipients of the Pingat Jasa Gemilang (Tentera)