Paul M. Nakasone

Born in St. Paul, Minnesota, Paul Nakasone is a member of the Nakasone family (仲宗根; なかそね) which can be traced back to Okinawa Prefecture. He is the son of Edwin M. Nakasone,[9] a second-generation Japanese American[10] and a retired United States Army colonel who served in the Military Intelligence Service during World War II, and Mary Anne Nakasone (née Costello).[1][2][11][12] His paternal grandparents came from Misato village in the Nakagami District, Okinawa.[13]

Nakasone grew up in White Bear Lake, Minnesota, and attended White Bear High School.[5][14][15] He is married and has four children.[1][5] Nakasone attended St. John's University, where he received a commission as military intelligence officer in 1986[16] through the Army Reserve Officers' Training Corps program.[1][14] Nakasone also attended the University of Southern California, the National Defense Intelligence College, and the United States Army War College, earning a Master's degree from each institution.[1][5][14][17] He also is a graduate of the United States Army Command and General Staff College.[6]

Nakasone casing the Second Army's colors in 2017 at its inactivation ceremony

Nakasone has commanded at the company, battalion, and brigade levels.[5] He also served in foreign assignments in Iraq, Afghanistan and Korea, and has served as a senior intelligence officer at the battalion, division, and corps levels.[5] Nakasone served on the Joint Chiefs of Staff as Deputy Director for Trans-Regional Policy in 2012 when he was promoted to the rank of brigadier general and previously served as a staff officer for General Keith B. Alexander.[1][18]

Prior to promotion to lieutenant general in 2016, Nakasone was the Deputy Commanding General of United States Cyber Command and later commander of the Cyber National Mission Force at Cyber Command.[5][6][19][20][21] Nakasone has twice served as a staff officer for the Joint Chiefs of Staff and was the Director of Intelligence, J2, for the International Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan.[5] On October 14, 2016, he took command of the United States Second Army and United States Army Cyber Command.[5][6] Nakasone was also given control of United States Cyber Command's Joint Task Force-ARES, a task-force designed to coordinate electronic counter-terrorist activities against the Islamic State.[6][22] He served as commander of the Second Army until it was inactivated for the fourth time in its history on March 31, 2017 and continued to serve as commander of United States Army Cyber Command until his appointment as NSA Director.[7]

In January 2018, it was reported that Nakasone was on the list of potential replacements for outgoing NSA Director Michael S. Rogers.[23] In February 2018, he was nominated for promotion to general.[24]

In April 2018, Nakasone was unanimously confirmed by the United States Senate as Director of the National Security Agency and head of the United States Cyber Command.[25] He was also promoted to the rank of general.

On January 2, 2021,the New York Times reported that General Nakasone and other officials responsible for cybersecurity missed an extensive network intrusion operation mounted by Russian cyber-criminals for over nine months. This operation is believed to have "affected upward of 250 federal agencies and businesses, that Russia aimed not at the election system but at the rest of the United States government and many large American corporations." "Those questions have taken on particular urgency given that the breach was not detected by any of the government agencies that share responsibility for cyber defense — the military’s Cyber Command and the National Security Agency, both of which are run by General Nakasone, and the Department of Homeland Security — but by a private cybersecurity company, FireEye." the Times reported.[26]

Left Side[5]

Badge Combat Action Badge 1st row Army Distinguished Service Medal with oak leaf cluster Defense Superior Service Medal with three oak leaf clusters Legion of Merit 2nd row Bronze Star Medal Defense Meritorious Service Medal with oak leaf cluster Meritorious Service Medal with four oak leaf clusters 3rd row Army Commendation Medal Joint Service Achievement Medal with oak leaf cluster Army Achievement Medal with four oak leaf clusters 4th row National Defense Service Medal with service star Afghanistan Campaign Medal with campaign star Iraq Campaign Medal with two campaign stars 5th row Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal Global War on Terrorism Service Medal Korea Defense Service Medal 6th row Army Service Ribbon Army Overseas Service Ribbon with award numeral 5 NATO Medal for service with ISAF Badge Joint Chiefs of Staff Identification Badge

Right Side[5]
Army Military Intelligence Corps Distinctive Unit Insignia Joint Meritorious Unit Award V Corps Combat Service Identification Badge

Other awards

Overseas Service Bar (x4)

	National Security Agency Badge
	United States Cyber Command Badge

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