Norton takes command of DISA

Navy Vice Adm. Nancy Norton has taken over as director of the Defense Information Systems Agency and commander of Joint Force Headquarters-Department of Defense Information Network.

Norton officially took over the dual-hat position from retiring Lt. Gen. Al Lynn during a ceremony at Ft. Meade, MD yesterday, according to a DISA statement. The Army three-star had held the top position at DISA since July 2015.

During the change-of-command ceremony at Ft. Meade, Essye Miller, the Pentagon's acting chief information officer, posited that DISA plays a central role in the Defense Department's future plans.

"Many of you know the National Defense Strategy was released just a couple of weeks ago," Miller said. [Defense Secretary Jim] Mattis is committed to restoring military readiness as we build a more lethal force, strengthen our alliances with our partners, and reform the department. The mission and the capabilities that this organization brings to bear resonate in all three of those areas."

Norton had been serving as the vice director at DISA since last summer. She has held a number of key information warfare positions over the course of her career. Prior to serving as vice director, she was on the chief of naval operations staff as director of warfare integration for information warfare (N2/N6).

She has also served as the director of the command, control, communications and cyber directorate at U.S. Pacific Command and the lead for command, control, communications, computers, intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (C4ISR) for the Navy's 2008 Quadrennial Defense Review office, according to her service biography. She has also worked as the executive assistant to the vice chief of naval operations and then to the CNO.