The White House has asked senators to confirm a promotion for Army Lt. Gen. Joshua Rudd – currently the Deputy Commander of U.S. Indo-Pacific Command. It is anticipated that he will soon be nominated to lead the National Security Agency (NSA) as well as U.S. Cyber Command. The duel-hatted position has been vacant since April after the previous director had been fired. Since January the NSA has cut over 2,000 positions (Defense One, Dec 16, 2025) in its workforce.
The next step is for the Senate Armed Services Committee (SASC) and Senate Select Committee on Intelligence (SSCI) to approve Rudd’s promotion to be a four-star general officer. The promotion process will likely be packaged with the nomination for leading both organizations. If approved, Rudd would be the Director of the National Security Agency and the Commander of U.S. Cyber Command. Both committees will hold hearings where Rudd is expected to testify. The committees then vote on whether to report the nomination to the full Senate – requiring a simple majority vote in the Senate for approval.
Rudd graduated from Furman University in 1993 and earned his comission through ROTC. In addition, he holds an M.A. degree in national security and strategic studies from the Naval War College, is a graduate of the Naval Command and Staff College, Infantry Officer Advance Course, and Army War College.
He completed the Special Forces Qualification Course (SFQC) in 1996. As a Special Forces Officer, he has commanded at every echelon from ODA to Group. Some of his awards include the CIB, SF Tab, Ranger Tab, Free Fall Jumpmaster Badge, and Combat Diver Supervisor Badge. He has deployed in support of multiple combat operations including Operation Enduring Freedom, Operation Iraqi Freedom, Operation New Dawn, and Operation Inherent Resolve.
Rudd has extensive experience in the Indo-Pacific theater, having led SOCPAC and in his current job position with Indo-Pacific Command as well. This background will be necessary considering the increased U.S. focus on China as the main strategic competitor on the world stage.
Some of his more senior assignments include:
- DCG – Operations, 25th Infantry Division
- DCG – 1st Special Forces Command
- Commander JIATF-NCR
- Commander of CJSOTF (Forward Deployed)
- Commander of 3rd Operations Support Group
- Commander Combined Joint Task Force (Forward Deployed)
- Commander Special Operations Command Pacific
