Apr/100
Obama picks Robert A. Harding for TSA
Robert A. Harding is a retired Army General and former head of a security company, and 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 well-positioned to be confirmed by the senate in less time than it takes to get no credit check personal loans.
General Robert Harding’s Army experience
Robert A. Harding served in the U.S. Army for over three decades. Harding held a position as a “senior human intelligence officer ” of the Defense Intelligence Agency, which is a part of the U.S. intelligence community – much like the CIA, but with a focus on military intelligence. Prior to his DIA service, Robert Harding was the Director of Intelligence in the Southern Command of the Army. In this post, Robert A. Harding overseeing the military intelligence operations for Central and South America as well as 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 Military Decorations
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.” With such an extensive military record, Harding is well-positioned to be easily confirmed by the Senate.
Harding Security Associates
After his retirement from the service in 2001, Robert A. Harding launched Harding Security Associates in 2003. Harding Security Associates is a consulting and private contracting firm that provides security services such as 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.
Transportation Security Administration to be headed by Harding
Robert A. Harding was not Obama's original pick. The original choice was Erroll Southers, an airport police official at LAX. The nomination was stymied by Republicans. 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
The Travel Security Administration began in 2001, which Robert A. Harding is set to take over is not without controversy. The screening of commercial airline passengers and luggage is a large security, intelligence, and public relations task. Many airline passengers are becoming increasingly frustrated with the long wait times and strict regulations they must comply with. Some TSA stations are testing full body scanners, which raises serious concerns over privacy. Robert A. Harding will have to head security of our nation's airports, and also deal with public discontent over the state of airports. 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.