Richard Ledgett

Richard H. Ledgett Jr. is a former Deputy Director of the National Security Agency.[1]

Richard Ledgett
18th Deputy Director of the National Security Agency
In office
2014–2017
PresidentBarack Obama
Donald Trump
Preceded byJohn C. Inglis
Succeeded byGeorge C. Barnes
Military service
Allegiance United States
Branch/service United States Army
UnitSignals Intelligence

Education

Ledgett has an undergraduate degree in psychology and a graduate degree in strategic intelligence.

Career

In 1988, he began working for the National Security Agency, where he served in a variety of positions in the cybersecurity division.

Previous positions at NSA included Deputy Director for Analysis and Production (2009–2010), Deputy Director for Data Acquisition (2006–2009), Assistant Deputy Director for Data Acquisition (2005–2006), and Chief, NSA/CSS Pacific (2002–2005).

From 2012 to 2013 he was the Director of the NSA/CSS Threat Operations Center, responsible for round-the-clock cryptologic activities to discover and counter adversary cyber efforts.

From June 2013 to his appointment as Deputy Director in January 2014, Ledgett headed the investigation of leaks regarding NSA surveillance programs made by Edward Snowden.[2]

On February 3, 2017, Ledgett announced that he would be retiring in the spring.[3] His successor was George C. Barnes.[4]

In October 2020, Ledgett signed a letter stating the Biden laptop story “has the classic earmarks of a Russian information operation” [5]

On August 15, 2017, Ledgett was elected to M&T Bank Corporation's Board of Directors.[6]

Ledgett was part of a group of former intelligence officials that signed a letter that stated the Biden laptop story “has the classic earmarks of a Russian information operation".[7] It was in fact revealed the laptop contained no evidence of Russian disinformation, and portions of its contents have been verified as authentic.[8]

Statements regarding NSA surveillance

Ledgett pledged increased transparency regarding NSA operations. He defended the operations of the NSA and argued in a rare interview with Reuters that NSA operations are completely legal.[9] Ledgett also accused the media of sensationalizing reports about various NSA mass surveillance programs.[10]

In March 2014, Ledgett stated during a TED Talk that the NSA operates legally. He further argued that President James Madison would be proud of the way in which Constitutional checks and balances have governed NSA mass surveillance.[10]

Awards and decorations
NSA Exceptional Civilian Service Medal

References
  1. "2014 Press Release – NSA's New Deputy Director". NSA.gov. Retrieved February 1, 2014.
  2. "Biography Deputy Director of the NSA – NSA/CSS". NSA.gov. Retrieved February 1, 2014.
  3. Geller, Eric (February 3, 2017). "NSA deputy director resigning this spring". Politico.
  4. "Current Leadership". NSA.gov. Retrieved June 28, 2017.
  5. "Hunter Biden story is Russian disinfo, dozens of former intel officials say". October 19, 2020.
  6. "EX-99.1". www.sec.gov. Retrieved August 25, 2017.
  7. "Hunter Biden story is Russian disinfo, dozens of former intel officials say". October 19, 2020.
  8. Broadwater, Luke. "Officials Who Cast Doubt on Hunter Biden Laptop Face Questions". The New York Times.
  9. Zakaria, Tabassum (December 13, 2013). "Exclusive: After 'cataclysmic' Snowden affair, NSA faces winds of change". Reuters. Retrieved February 1, 2014.
  10. Bercovici, Jeff (March 20, 2014). "At TED, NSA's Deputy Director Says 'President Madison Would've Been Proud'". Forbes. Retrieved March 22, 2014.
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