Office of General Counsel Leadership

Acting General Counsel Ariane E. Cerlenko

Current Position

As the Acting General Counsel beginning January 2021, Ms. Cerlenko serves as the highest ranking NSA career civilian lawyer on all legal matters across the Agency’s missions and functions. She leads over 100 lawyers and support staff in providing the legal advice necessary to ensure NSA is operating lawfully. She is also a trusted advisor to NSA senior leadership, advising on legal issues that arise in every facet of NSA’s administration including mission and support functions. Under NSA’s governance structure, Ms. Cerlenko actively participates in Board of Director meetings as an advisor to the board and is the NSA Designated Agency Ethics Official. She has worked within the Office of General Counsel since 1997.

Education

Ms. Cerlenko graduated with a Juris Doctor from the Washington College of Law, the American University in 1991 and a Bachelor of Arts from the State University of New York at Albany in 1988. She is licensed to practice law in the State of Maryland and Commonwealth of Virginia.