Former NSA Director Keith Alexander Joins Amazon's Board of Directors
Amazon appoints retired Gen. Keith Alexander, the former head of the NSA and US Cyber Command, to its board of directors. The controversial move brings significant defense contracting expertise to the tech giant.
Amazon officially adds retired Gen. Keith Alexander to its board of directors, according to a new Securities and Exchange Commission filing. Alexander serves as the former director of the National Security Agency and the first commander of US Cyber Command, making him a highly prominent figure in national security circles.
The appointment sparks controversy within the tech community because Alexander acts as the public face of US government surveillance during the Edward Snowden leaks. He oversees broad data collection programs like PRISM that compromise systems at major tech companies, and he publicly criticizes journalists for reporting on the leaked documents.
Alexander's presence on the board provides Amazon with valuable expertise in defense contracting as the company aggressively pursues massive military contracts. This strategic hire highlights Amazon's deepening ties to the defense sector, particularly as it competes for lucrative government cloud computing deals.