Gen. Paul Nakasone

Former Commander, U.S. Cyber Command & Former Director of the National Security Agency

General Paul M. Nakasone, a retired U.S. Army four-star general, serves as the Founding Director of Vanderbilt University's Institute of National Security.

From 2018 to 2024, General Nakasone led U.S. Cyber Command and the National Security Agency, overseeing national cyber defense and global signals intelligence operations. A career military leader with more than three decades of experience, he has commanded at all levels, with deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan, and has held key intelligence and joint staff roles.

A recognized authority on cyber operations and national security, General Nakasone continues to advance dialogue and research on emerging global security challenges, inspiring innovation and leadership in this critical field.