Michael S. Rogers

US intelligence director

Michael Rogers
Image	Michael Rogers
Nationality	American
Occupation	Naval officer; intelligence director; investment-sector adviser
Known for	Director, National Security Agency 2 April 2014 – 4 May 2018 Operating partner, Team8
Education	Auburn University; National War College; Naval War College
Predecessor	Keith Alexander

Michael Rogers led the National Security Agency (NSA) as director, from 2014 to 2018.

Office held

Michael Rogers — intelligence leadership

Office	Start	End	Predecessor	Successor	Source
Director, National Security Agency	2 April 2014	4 May 2018	Keith Alexander	Paul Nakasone

Education and professional development

Michael S. Rogers graduated from Auburn University and holds a master’s degree in national security. His Team8 biography also records study at the National War College, the Naval War College, Massachusetts Institute of Technology’s Seminar XXI and an executive programme at Harvard University.

Naval intelligence career

Before becoming director of the National Security Agency, Michael S. Rogers commanded United States Fleet Cyber Command and the Tenth Fleet. His earlier appointments included director of intelligence for the Joint Chiefs of Staff and for United States Pacific Command.

NSA and Cyber Command

The United States Senate confirmed Michael S. Rogers’s promotion to admiral on 31 March 2014. The National Security Agency announced that he would assume responsibility for the agency and command of U.S. Cyber Command on 2 April, following Keith B. Alexander’s departure. The agency’s leadership chronology records his successor, Paul Nakasone, taking office in May 2018.

Upstream collection and compliance failures

On 28 April 2017, during Michael S. Rogers’s directorship, the National Security Agency announced that it would stop collecting upstream internet communications solely ‘about’ a foreign intelligence target. It would retain collection of communications directly to or from a target and delete the vast majority of previously acquired upstream internet communications. The agency said it had reported earlier compliance incidents involving queries using US-person information to Congress and the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court. It characterised the incidents as inadvertent; the court had twice extended consideration of the annual authorisation while the agency developed a response.

Cybersecurity investment role

Michael S. Rogers — private-sector appointment

Organisation	Role and dates	Source
Team8	Operating partner, advising the firm and its cybersecurity businesses after his military career; appointment dates are not given in the biography.