SurveillanceA civilian may be appointed to head the NSA

The Obama administration is considering appointing a civilian to lead the National Security Agency (NSA). If carried out, the move would install a civilian to lead the agency for the first time since its founding in 1952. Keith Alexander, the current director of the NSA, is a four-star Army general. He plans to retire next spring.

No decision has yet been made, but a former administration official told theHill that the White House has put together a short list of potential civilian candidates.

Analysts say the move could lead to more transparency and oversight of NSA operations in the aftermath of the Edward Snowden’s leaks.

The Hill notes that the search for a civilian to head the NSA would not be easy. The position requires technical understanding and familiarity with intelligence gathering. Marc Rotenberg, executive director of the Electronic Privacy Information Center, told theHill that having a civilian director of the NSA is a “significant proposal” because “It sends a message that the NSA needs a better, non-military form of oversight.” He added: “With the other questions now being raised about the adequacy of accountability, we would see that as a step in the right direction.”

Rotenberg said that Alexander has amassed too much power within the administration, allowing him to push more aggressive surveillance practices.”The theory is that when you have civilian leadership of military functions you maintain the type of balance that’s necessary to ensure that those enormous powers within the government don’t become unaccountable,” Rotenberg said.

Other intelligence-gathering agencies, including the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), and the State Department’s Bureau of Intelligence and Research are led by civilians.

Jim Lewis, a senior fellow at the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), cautioned that a civilian director of the NSA could limit the agency’s ability to provide intelligence for military operations. “People don’t often realize that’s an important part of what NSA does,” he said. “There might be more tension between the military and civilian roles of the agency.”

Senate Intelligence Committee chairwoman Dianne Feinstein (D-California) is moving forward with a legislation which would require a Senate confirmation for the NSA director position. The legislation is attached to her committee’s bill to re-authorize funding for the intelligence agencies.

White House officials say the president would only name a civilian to head the NSA if he also decides to appoint a separate leader for U.S. Cyber Command. Alexander currently heads both the NSA and Cyber Command.

“The current arrangement was designed to ensure that both organizations complement each other effectively. That said, in consultation with appropriate agencies, we are looking to ensure we are appropriately postured to address current and future security needs,” said White House spokeswoman, Caitlin Hayden.

“General Alexander remains both the Director of the NSA and Commander of Cyber Command through the spring of 2014, so no final decisions have been made.”