By On August 21, the National Security Agency (NSA) announced Joseph “Joe” Francescon will 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.
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. “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.
“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.”
Source: NSA
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