The U.S. Senate confirmed Gen. Joshua Rudd as director of the National Security Agency and U.S. Cyber Command on Tuesday in a 71-29 vote, filling a leadership position that had remained vacant for an extended period.

Rudd, who currently serves as deputy chief of U.S. Indo-Pacific Command, will add the NSA and Cyber Command leadership roles to his existing responsibilities. The confirmation represents a significant expansion of his duties within the national security apparatus.

The confirmation process faced some procedural hurdles, including a hold placed by Sen. Ron Wyden (D-Ore.). However, senators were ultimately able to move forward with the vote despite the procedural obstacles.

The NSA directorship oversees the nation's primary signals intelligence agency, while U.S. Cyber Command leads military cyberspace operations. The dual role reflects the interconnected nature of intelligence gathering and cyber operations in modern national security.

Rudd's confirmation ends an extended vacancy in these critical national security positions, restoring permanent leadership to agencies that play central roles in protecting U.S. digital infrastructure and conducting intelligence operations.