NSA spying chief Keith Alexander to step down

Army General Keith Alexander is soon to end his eight-year reign at the U.S. National Security Agency.

Alexander has finalized his plans to leave his post as Director by March or April next year, and his deputy John "Chris" Inglis will retire by the end of 2014.

The NSA has recently been blinded by the media spotlight as revelations from former contractor Edward Snowden -- currently hiding out in Russia to prevent U.S. authorities from arresting him -- accused the agency of extensive spying not only on U.S. citizens, but governments and allies worldwide.

Thousands of documents released by the contractor to media state that the NSA used technology to track and keep records of the telephone calls, emails and social media of ordinary citizens.

While commander of the U.S. Navy's 10th Fleet and U.S. Fleet Cyber Command Vice Admiral Michael Rogers may be the top candidate to fill the post, anonymous officials said no final decisions on a successor have been made.

NSA spokeswoman Vanee Vines told Reuters:

"This has nothing to do with media leaks, the decision for his retirement was made prior; an agreement was made with the (Secretary of Defense) and the Chairman for one more year -- to March 2014."

The general has served as director of the secretive agency since April 2005.

Via: The Atlantic

Image credit: ZDNet

This post was originally published on Smartplanet.com