Announced pick for No. 2 at NSA won’t get the job as another candidate surfaces

The report details a personnel shake-up at the NSA, with the administration reversing its plan to appoint Joe Francescon as deputy director and instead moving to name former NSA/FBI official Tim Kosiba after internal resistance and outside pressure. Kosiba, who previously served in NSA’s TAO and as deputy commander of NSA Georgia, reportedly completed a polygraph as part of the process. Additional changes include the imminent retirement of acting deputy Sheila Thomas, the non-promotion of operations director Natalie Lang, and the continued vacancy of the dual-hat NSA/Cyber Command chief role, with Lt. Gen. Joshua Rudd considered the top choice pending timing and formal nomination.