New CYBERCOM Chief

President Obama has nominated Navy Vice Adm. Michael Rogers to become the next head of U.S. Cyber Command, according to a Pentagon statement released late this afternoon.

Rogers will also serve as director of the National Security Agency and chief of the Central Security Service. He is currently head of the Navy's Fleet Cyber Command.

If confirmed by the Senate, rogers will replace Gen. Keith Alexander, who has served as the NSA director since 2005, and CYBERCOM chief since 2010.

The Pentagon also announced that Richard Ledgett had been selected to become deputy director of NSA, replacing J. Chris Inglis, who retired from the position in January.

Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel issued a statement on Rogers' nomination:

I am pleased that President Obama has accepted my recommendation to nominate Vice Adm. Michael Rogers as Commander of U.S. Cyber Command. And I am delighted to designate him also as Director of the National Security Agency.

This is a critical time for the NSA, and Vice Adm. Rogers would bring extraordinary and unique qualifications to this position as the agency continues its vital mission and implements President Obama's reforms. A trained cryptologist, his Navy career spans 30 years. As commander of the Navy's 10th Fleet and U.S. Fleet Cyber Command, he has already demonstrated his leadership and deep expertise in this critical domain. I am also confident that Adm. Rogers has the wisdom to help balance the demands of security, privacy, and liberty in our digital age.

If confirmed, Vice Adm. Rogers will be joined by an exceptionally able Deputy Director and senior civilian leader, Rick Ledgett, whom I congratulate on his appointment today. Rick brings outstanding qualifications to the job. And I know that both he and Vice Adm. Rogers join me in thanking Gen. Keith Alexander for his remarkable leadership of the NSA and Cyber Command for nearly a decade.