Lt. Gen. William Hartman has been appointed acting director of the National Security Agency several hours after the Trump administration fired top officials at the agency, The Hill reported Saturday.
LTG Hartman will also serve as acting commander of the U.S. Cyber Command and acting chief of the Central Security Service, while Sheila Thomas will be the acting NSA deputy director.
The appointment follows President Donald Trump’s decision to dismiss NSA Director Gen. Timothy Haugh, Brian Walsh, senior director of intelligence, Thomas Boodry, senior director of legislative affairs, and David Feith, senior director of technology and national security.
Trump’s decision to fire the officials was based on recommendations by far-right activist Laura Loomer, who questioned their loyalty. The president said, “Laura Loomer is a great patriot. She’s a very strong person. She makes recommendations on things and people, and sometimes I listen to those recommendations, like I do with everybody. I listen to everybody, and then I make a decision.”
Who Is William Hartman?
Prior to his NSA designation, Hartman was the commander of the Cyber National Mission Force.
In his military career, the University of South Alabama’s distinguished military graduate held various positions as an infantry, military intelligence and cyberspace operations officer. He was assigned to various countries, including Italy, Germany, the Republic of Korea, Iraq, Afghanistan and Turkey.
He has also received numerous recognitions, including the Legion of Merit with oak leaf clusters, the Bronze Star Medal with oak leaf clusters and the Army Achievement Medal with oak leaf clusters.
