ɪn ɐkˈoːɹdəns wɪð dᵻpˈɑːɹtmənt ʌv dᵻfˈɛns dᵻɹˈɛktɪv fˈaɪv θˈaʊzənd wˈʌnhˈʌndɹɪd.twˈɛnti, dˈeɪɾᵻd twˈɛnti θɹˈiː dᵻsˈɛmbɚ nˈaɪntiːnhˈʌndɹɪd sˈɛvənti wˈʌn, ðə dᵻɹˈɛktɚɹ ʌvðɪ ˌɛnˌɛsˈeɪ mˈʌst ˈɔːlweɪz biː ɐ kəmˈɪʃənd ˈɑːfɪsɚɹ ʌvðə mˈɪlətˌɛɹi sˈɜːvɪsᵻz.
In accordance with Department of Defense Directive 5100.20, dated 23 December 1971, the director of the NSA must always be a commissioned officer of the military services.