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Snowden-stung NSA seeking PR guru

From POLITICO Pro's Morning Cybersecurity:

The NSA is advertising for a director of strategic communications to serve as the agency’s primary spokesperson, according to a recent job posting.

“The incumbent will be the principal architect of external outreach designed to meet the president's expectations for greater transparency,” the post reads. The applicant also needs to be familiar with military culture and have a record of “absolute discretion.” The pay is $175,000.

A senior intelligence official said the agency is looking for a PR heavy-hitter, perhaps even a former senior journalist, to implement new Director Adm. Michael Rogers’ oft-touted commitment to greater transparency at the beleaguered agency.

The announcement comes as the agency prepares to unveil a new role for current Director of Public Affairs Judith Emmel, who has been the unassuming face of the famously secretive agency since 1992, serving five directors. She moved with one of them, Michael Hayden, to the Office of the Director of National Intelligence when he became deputy DNI, but later returned to NSA to work for his successor. “I am rotating to a wonderful new job,” Emmel told MC, saying she couldn’t share details ahead of a public announcement. The job post: http://1.usa.gov/1pTSAtc

The job posting was flagged Friday by The Hill.

—with Shaun Waterman