Joe Francescon, a former defense and national security official in the first Trump administration, has been appointed as the new deputy director of the national security agency (NSA), news portal Politico reported on Thursday.The announcement comes months after a major leadership overhaul at the NSA, which included the dismissal of former deputy Wendy Noble and NSA-cyber command head general Timothy Haugh. Francescon’s appointment does not require Senate confirmation.Director of national intelligence Tulsi Gabbard and defense secretary Pete Hegseth confirmed the appointment in a joint statement, saying, “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,” as quoted by the portal.Francescon, who previously served over a decade as an intelligence analyst at the NSA, also held roles in the Pentagon and the national security council between 2018 and 2020. He is currently the chief external affairs officer at defense contractor DZYNE Technologies.In his statement, Francescon said he was “deeply honored and filled with excitement to return home” to the NSA, adding, “I am eager to lead NSA’s exceptional team in safeguarding our nation and countering global threats to protect the American people.”His appointment follows the controversial firing of his predecessor and general Haugh by President Donald Trump, reportedly after a meeting with far-right activist Laura Loomer at the White House. While no official explanation was given for the dismissals, Loomer posted on X that both officials were “disloyal to President Trump,” citing their prior appointments under Biden and Obama administrations. Lt Gen William Hartman has been serving as acting NSA and cyber command head since the leadership shake-up. It remains unclear whether he will be formally nominated for the dual-hat role, which requires Senate confirmation.Francescon’s appointment is seen as part of the Trump administration’s broader efforts to install trusted figures in senior national security roles.
