Thursday, October 17, 2013

Expect Soon To Be Retired NSA Director Alexander Accepting A Lucrative Position In A Defense Firm

General Keith Alexander, director of the National Security Agency (NSA) and U.S. Cyber Command speaks to reporters during the Reuters Cybersecurity Summit in Washington, May 14, 2013. VOA

As NSA Director Alexander Plans Departure, Here's How Former Top Spooks Cashed In On 'Retirement' -- Chicago Tribune/Forbes

Four-star General Keith Alexander had a perfectly fine 39-year career serving in the military and then as director of the National Security Agency. His 40th-and last before he plans to leave office in 2014-hasn't been so pleasant, thanks to the series of leaks from Booz Allen contractor Edward Snowden that have thrown his agency into one of the biggest privacy scandals in its history.

Alexander has now "formalized plans" to leave by spring of next year, according to a report from Reuters, who names the Navy's Vice Admiral Michael Rogers as a possible replacement. More surprisingly, NSA Deputy Director John Inglis may be out earlier, before the end of the year.

Luckily for Alexander and Inglis, they have a perk-filled escape route from the NSA controversy: A lucrative position at a Beltway contractor or consultancy. As much as 70% of the intelligence community's budget-nearly $11 billion for the NSA alone last year according to one Snowden leak-goes to contractors, writes Tim Shorrock, author of the book Spies for Hire.

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My Comment: I guess his pension is going to be his petty cash fund.

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