August 21, 2025 - FORT MEADE, MD. – Today, the National Security Agency (NSA) announced that the Secretary of Defense and Director of National Intelligence have designated and the President has approved Mr. Joseph “Joe” Francescon to serve as NSA's 21st Deputy Director and senior civilian leader.
In his role, Francescon will be overseeing strategy execution, establishing policy, guiding operations, and managing the senior civilian leadership. As an agency Deputy in the U.S. national security system, he will support the U.S. defense and intelligence enterprise in the formulation of national security policies, and position NSA as an integrated mission partner enabling U.S. decisive advantage and security against foreign threats.
"Congratulations to Joe Francescon, President Trump's appointment to lead the National Security Agency as Deputy Director,” said Tulsi Gabbard, Director of National Intelligence, and Pete Hegseth, Secretary of Defense in a joint statement. “Joe has served our country with distinction at the highest levels of national security, from the Intelligence Community to the Pentagon and overseas. 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. We have confidence and faith that Joe will serve with integrity as a mission-focused leader and faithfully uphold the Constitution and defend the freedom and security of the American people."
Francescon began his career in government as a Department of Defense civilian within the National Security Agency in 2008. Throughout his time in government, he has served in a variety of roles focused primarily on supporting interagency counterterrorism efforts, including overseas postings in East and West Africa and the Middle East.
After Francescon’s time at NSA, he served as Director for Counterterrorism and as the Acting Senior Director for the Counterterrorism and Transnational Threats Directorate at the National Security Council (NSC). In those positions, he was responsible for the coordination and implementation of strategic-level policymaking and support to senior NSC and White House leadership on all manners of counterterrorism, hostage recovery, counternarcotics, and transnational organized crime issues.
Previously, Francescon held roles as the Deputy Chief of Staff at the Pentagon, and as Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Special Operations and Combatting Terrorism. Francescon was responsible for overseeing the employment of special operations forces in counterterrorism, Military Information Support Operations (MISO), Information Operations, unconventional warfare, irregular warfare, direct action, special reconnaissance, foreign internal defense, counter proliferation, sensitive special operations, and personnel recovery/hostage issues as specified by the Secretary of Defense.
"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, Deputy Director, NSA. “I extend my heartfelt gratitude to President Trump for his trust in me and bold leadership in prioritizing America's security, to DNI Tulsi Gabbard for her principled and inspiring guidance rooted in constitutional values, and to Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth for his transformative vision and combat-tested resolve. Together, I am eager to lead NSA's exceptional team in safeguarding our nation and countering global threats to protect the American people.”
Most recently, Francescon served as Chief External Affairs Officer at defense contractor DZYNE Technologies.
“On behalf of NSA and US Cyber Command, I’d like to welcome Joseph ‘Joe’ Francescon back to NSA,” said LTG William J. Hartman, Acting Commander, U.S. Cyber Command; Performing the Duties of Director NSA, and Chief, Central Security Service.
“Joe brings a wealth of experience to the Deputy Director role, including his tenure as an analyst and Director for Counterterrorism with the National Security Council and Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Special Operations and Combatting Terrorism at the Pentagon,” said LTG William J. Hartman, Acting Commander, U.S. Cyber Command; Performing the Duties of Director NSA, and Chief, Central Security Service. “I look forward to working alongside him to continue our vital foreign signals intelligence and cybersecurity mission.”
Ms. Sheila Thomas, Acting Deputy Director, will return to her role as Executive Director of NSA. “I’d also like to extend my sincere gratitude to Sheila Thomas for her exceptional leadership as NSA’s Acting Deputy Director,” said LTG William J. Hartman, Acting Commander, U.S. Cyber Command; Performing the Duties of Director NSA, and Chief, Central Security Service. “She will now return to her role as NSA Executive Director, where she will continue to represent NSA’s interests internally and externally to strengthen our partnerships and sharpen our competitive advantage in a world of ever-increasing complexity.”
A native of Columbus, Ohio, Francescon earned a Bachelor of Arts in International Studies from Miami University and possesses a Master of Science degree in Cybersecurity.
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