Lt General William Joseph “Joe” Hartman is a University of Southern Alabama graduate (class of ’89). Hartman had served as the deputy commander of U.S. Cyber Command, and previously served as commander of the Cyber National Mission Force. Before that, he served in various infantry, intelligence and cyber operations military roles in the U.S., Germany, South Korea, Iraq, Afghanistan and other locations.
WASHINGTON – President Donald Trump is expected to nominate Lt. Gen. William Hartman, the acting leader of both the National Security Agency and U.S. Cyber Command, to formally lead both agencies, two people with knowledge of the situation told POLITICO on Thursday.
Hartman has the support of top officials at the White House, the Office of the Director of National Intelligence and the Defense Department, according to one of the people. Both individuals were granted anonymity as they were not authorized to speak publicly.
[…] Hartman’s paperwork will be sent to the National Security Council before hitting the president’s desk. The dual role is a Senate-confirmed position, given that it is a promotion to four-star general.
[…] Hartman is unlikely to face much pushback to his nomination in the Senate. He testified before the Senate Armed Services Committee’s cyber subcommittee in April, days after Haugh’s dismissal, and garnered praise from both sides of the aisle. (read more)
Hartman’s nomination follows Joe Francescon being picked to serve as deputy director of the NSA.
This is a critical nomination. It is a very interesting dynamic. The Senate Select Committee on Intelligence (SSCI) can block a nomination that is against their control efforts and that ultimately this becomes how the SSCI controls the power dynamic within the intelligence apparatus.
Deputy NSA Director Joe Francescon did not require SSCI nomination, and Joe Francescon was fully supported by DNI Tulsi Gabbard. To become Director of the NSA William Joseph Hartman appears acceptable to Gabbard, acceptable to the White House and acceptable to the SSCI.