Cyber Command, NSA Nominee Rudd Advances to Senate Floor

Why It Matters

Confirming a permanent leader ends a ten‑month vacancy, shaping U.S. cyber defense and intelligence strategy at a critical geopolitical moment.

Key Takeaways

• Senate panel approves Rudd 14-3 vote
• Rudd lacks cyber warfare experience
• Nomination moves to full Senate
• Deputy Lorna Mahlock confirmed as Rudd’s second-in-command
• Cyber Command, NSA leader vacancy lasted ten months

Pulse Analysis

The dual‑hat structure of U.S. Cyber Command and the National Security Agency has long required a single leader to synchronize offensive cyber operations with strategic intelligence collection. After a ten‑month leadership gap, the Senate’s approval of Lt. Gen. Joshua Rudd signals a return to unified command, even though his résumé is rooted in conventional military roles rather than digital warfare. This appointment underscores the administration’s priority to restore stability and continuity in the nation’s most sensitive cyber‑related institutions.

Rudd’s lack of direct cyber experience has sparked bipartisan debate about the qualifications needed to steer America’s digital warfighting apparatus. Critics argue that technical expertise is essential for addressing sophisticated threats from nation‑state actors and ransomware groups, while supporters contend that strategic leadership and inter‑agency coordination are equally vital. The confirmation process, moving swiftly to a voice vote, reflects both urgency and political calculus, as lawmakers balance national security imperatives against the risk of a protracted hold that could further delay critical cyber initiatives.

Looking ahead, the Senate’s final vote will likely cement Rudd’s role, but the broader impact will hinge on how quickly he integrates with existing cyber teams and leverages his deputy, Maj. Gen. Lorna Mahlock, who brings operational cyber experience. Their combined leadership could accelerate modernization efforts, improve joint force readiness, and reinforce deterrence postures amid escalating global cyber competition. The outcome will also set a precedent for future nominations, highlighting the tension between military pedigree and specialized cyber acumen in senior defense appointments.

Cyber Command, NSA nominee Rudd advances to Senate floor

By Martin Matishak · February 10 th, 2026

The Senate Intelligence Committee voted on Tuesday to advance President Donald Trump’s pick to be the next head of U.S. Cyber Command and the National Security Agency, sending the nomination to the full chamber.

The panel voted 14‑3 to approve Army Lt. Gen. Joshua Rudd, who currently serves as the deputy chief of U.S. Indo‑Pacific Command. The Senate Armed Services Committee, which shares jurisdiction over the nomination due to the “dual‑hat” leadership structure that governs both entities, approved him by voice vote last month.

Rudd, who has no prior cyber warfare or intelligence experience, sailed through both of his confirmation hearings.

Lawmakers on both sides of the aisle are eager for someone to take command of the military’s top digital warfighting organization and the foreign electronic eavesdropping agency, which have been without a permanent leader for 10 months.

President Donald Trump abruptly fired the last chief, along with his NSA deputy, following a meeting with far‑right activist Laura Loomer.

Rudd’s nomination now goes to the full Senate, which could act on it before the end of the week, likely by voice vote. However, any policymaker could place a hold on the nominee for any reason, delaying action.

Late last month, senators confirmed Marine Corps Maj. Gen. Lorna Mahlock, the head of the Cyber National Mission Force, to be Rudd’s deputy and receive her third star.

Brig. Gen. Matthew Lennox, a senior leader at U.S. Army Cyber Command, is still expected to succeed Mahlock as the head of the command’s elite force and receive his second star.