NSA Cybersecurity Director Rob Joyce to retire, agency says

The National Security Agency’s Cybersecurity Director Rob Joyce will retire at the end of March after a 34 year career at the NSA, the agency announced on Tuesday.

Since 2021, Joyce has helmed the NSA’s Cybersecurity Directorate, spearheading agency efforts to work with the public and private sectors on defense from digital assaults.

Joyce wore many hats at the agency, including as deputy director of the agency’s former Information Assurance Directorate and the leader of the elite NSA hacking unit known as Tailored Access Operations, which is responsible for penetrating foreign targets. He was also the cybersecurity advisor to former President Donald Trump before returning to the NSA.

Joyce was one of the most public faces of the historically secretive agency, speaking regularly at conferences, helping to lead vulnerability disclosure initiatives, and pushing collaborations with the private sector to protect critical infrastructure.

“Rob’s leadership of the agency’s critical Cybersecurity mission has been exemplary,” NSA Director General Timothy D. Haugh said in a press release. “His vision and development of the CSD team and its capacities ensures that NSA’s cybersecurity mission is healthy and will continue to be successful in protecting our allies and national systems well into the future.”

Joyce’s retirement comes on the heels of the departure of Army Gen. Paul Nakasone as head of Cyber Command and the NSA. He was replaced in both positions by Haugh. Joyce was a contender to take over as the NSA’s deputy director following the retirement of George Barnes last year, but the position eventually went to Wendy Noble, another longtime NSA employee.