Pentagon taps new DISA director

Defense Secretary Jim Mattis has nominated Rear Adm. Nancy Norton for a third star and selected her to serve as the next head of the Defense Information Systems Agency.

Norton was named vice director of DISA in August. When elevated to DISA director, Norton will also become commander of Joint Forces Headquarters-Department of Defense Information Network. She succeeds Army Lt. Gen. Al Lynn.

Norton has held a number of key information warfare positions over the course of her career. Prior to serving as vice director at DISA, 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 Navy biography. She has also worked as the executive assistant to the vice chief of naval operations and then to the CNO.