Robert A. Harding is a retired Army General and former head of a security company, which is the potential pick for head of the Transportation Security Administration, an agency under a lot of heat as of late. With extensive security experience and 33 years in the Army, Robert A. Harding is in a good position for senate confirmation faster than getting no credit check personal loans.
General Robert Harding's Army experience
Robert A. Harding served in the U.S. Army for 33 years. Harding held a position as a "senior human intelligence officer " in the Defense Intelligence Agency, the military component of the U.S. intelligence community, and that is essentially the military version of the CIA. Prior to his DIA service, Robert Harding was the Director of Intelligence in the Southern Command of the Army. The duties of the post had Robert A. Harding was responsible for the military intelligence covering Central America, South America, and the Caribbean. He was responsible for planning and executing intelligence operations, getting armed forces loans for those purposes, for more than one continent.
Robert A. Harding’s Decorations in Military Service
According to Executive Gov, "Harding's military awards and decorations include the Defense Distinguished Service Medal, the Army Distinguished Service Medal, the Defense Superior Medal, the Legion of Merit with three oak leaf clusters, the Defense Meritorious Service Medal, and the Meritorious Service Medal with two oak leaf clusters." Obviously, his CV from the military puts Harding in a position for easy Senate confirmation.
Head of Harding Security Associates
After his retirement from the service in 2001, Robert A. Harding started Harding Security Associates in 2003. Harding Security Associates is a private contractor and consulting firm that, according to their website, provide "security specialists, intelligence analysts, counterintelligence professionals, forensic technicians and senior program advisors" to U.S. Government agencies. Robert Harding himself sold Harding Security Associates in 2009.
Harding nominated to head the Transportation Security Administration
Robert A. Harding was not President Obama's original choice for the top job in the TSA. Erroll Southers, who is an airport police official at the LAX airport, was Obama's original choice. However, Republicans made it a point to block the nomination based. This block was because of the fear Southers would create a screener's union, which would increase costs for the government. This makes the Robert Harding nomination easier to stomach.
TSA not without controversy
Created in 2001, the Transportation Security Administration that Robert A. Harding is set to take over is not without controversy. Screening airline passengers and baggage is a large issue for security, intelligence, and public relations. Airline passengers are growing frustrated with longer wait times and regulations. Some TSA stations are testing full body scanners, which raises serious concerns over privacy. Robert A. Harding will have to not only head up the security of the nation's airports, he will also have to balance that with the rising discontent and frustration of air passengers. It will be a very difficult job, though President Obama seems to believe that Robert A. Harding is the one to take on the credit repair of this agency.
No comments:
Post a Comment