Posted on 03/08/2010 7:12:56 AM PST by maggief
WASHINGTON, D.C.
U.S. President Barack Obama has selected Army Maj. Gen. Robert Harding to lead the Transportation Security Administration, officials said.
An administration official said Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano would announce Harding's nomination Monday, CNN reported.
"The TSA administrator is the most important unfilled post in the Obama administration," the official told CNN. "Mr. Harding has the experience and perspective to make a real difference in carrying out the mission of the agency. If there was ever a nominee that warranted expedited, but detailed, consideration in the Senate, this is it."
If confirmed by the Senate, Harding would be the TSA's first African-American administrator.
Harding was CEO of Harding Security Associates, a defense and intelligence government contractor he founded in 2003 and sold in 2009.
From 1996 to 2000, Harding was the Defense Intelligence Agency's director for operations and the Pentagon's senior human intelligence officer, CNN said. He also was director for intelligence for the Army's Southern Command.
Obama's first nominee for the post, Erroll Southers, a Los Angeles airport police department official, withdrew from consideration in January after lawmakers questioned his shifting explanation about disciplinary action taken against him years ago, CNN said. Also, Sen. Jim DeMint, R-S.C., led Republican efforts to block Southers' nomination based on concerns that Southers would unionize airport screeners.
Southern Command (where he worked) is for Central and South America.
Central Command (CENTCOM) is in charge of the Middle East over to Afghanistan and Pakistan.
He’s a black guy that has an intel background. Translation: He’s probably kept his nose clean, paid his taxes and just maybe, isn’t a communist for the netizens to make fun of.
Those qualifications alone are enough for head of TSA.
Other than that I’ve never heard of him. He’s commanded an Aerial Exploitation Bn so he may know what an antenna looks like but maybe not know what it does. If we have any CI guys here maybe they can chime in since it seems the bulk of his background is in HUMINT.
I'd guess CI but most of his time [other than one tour in RVN] seems to be staff/command where specific trades craft, background, or even clear understanding aren't necessarily critical.
My thought exactly: that was the precise period during which HUMINT was castrated. That’s who needs to be heading TSA?
Colonel, USAFR
Monday, March 08, 2010
WorldNetDaily Exclusive
Obama’s TSA pick: Hire on ‘ethnic diversity’
Robert Harding says placing minorities at top should be ‘requirement’
Posted: March 08, 2010
1:05 pm Eastern
By Aaron Klein
WorldNetDaily
President Obama’s pick to head the Transportation Security Administration long has pushed for “ethnic diversity” as a determining factor in hiring new teams for U.S. military and intelligence agencies, WND has learned.
The president announced today his nominee for TSA chief, retired Gen. Robert Harding.
Harding served in the Army for 33 years until he retired in 2001 and went into business as a private security contractor. He previously served as the Defense Department’s top human intelligence officer and managed a $1 billion intelligence collection program. Between 2003 and 2009, Harding was a government consultant on human intelligence and counterintelligence issues.
He has lobbied for “ethnic diversity” in the U.S. defense establishment.
WND found that in 2003, Harding submitted written testimony to a Senate subcommittee hearing on intelligence issues pushing for more diversity at security agencies, going so far as to call diversity a “requirement.” ..excerpt
http://www.wnd.com/index.php?fa=PAGE.view&pageId=127285
Didn’t see that one coming. /sarc.
Thanks for the update, KeyLargo.
Monday, March 08, 2010
WorldNetDaily Exclusive
Obama’s TSA pick: Hire on ‘ethnic diversity’
Robert Harding says placing minorities at top should be ‘requirement’
Posted: March 08, 2010
1:05 pm Eastern
By Aaron Klein
WorldNetDaily
President Obama’s pick to head the Transportation Security Administration long has pushed for “ethnic diversity” as a determining factor in hiring new teams for U.S. military and intelligence agencies, WND has learned.
The president announced today his nominee for TSA chief, retired Gen. Robert Harding.
Harding served in the Army for 33 years until he retired in 2001 and went into business as a private security contractor. He previously served as the Defense Department’s top human intelligence officer and managed a $1 billion intelligence collection program. Between 2003 and 2009, Harding was a government consultant on human intelligence and counterintelligence issues.
He has lobbied for “ethnic diversity” in the U.S. defense establishment.
WND found that in 2003, Harding submitted written testimony to a Senate subcommittee hearing on intelligence issues pushing for more diversity at security agencies, going so far as to call diversity a “requirement.” ..excerpt
http://www.wnd.com/index.php?fa=PAGE.view&pageId=127285
This should give everyone a nice, warm, fuzzy feeling about this guy:
“Harding served in the Army for 33 years until he retired in 2001 and went into business as a private security contractor. He previously served as the Defense Department’s top human intelligence officer and managed a $1 billion intelligence collection program. Between 2003 and 2009, Harding was a government consultant on human intelligence and counterintelligence issues.
He has lobbied for “ethnic diversity” in the U.S. defense establishment.
WND found that in 2003, Harding submitted written testimony to a Senate subcommittee hearing on intelligence issues pushing for more diversity at security agencies, going so far as to call diversity a “requirement.” ..excerpt
Intell officers tend to be the "quite type". Well, professionally anyway. Some I know aren't all that quiet otherwise. And I know quite a few. One is even a Major General, still serving. :)
Is there a Wesley Clark connection?
Never knew this guy, but if he commanded an aerial exploitation bn he might know what an airplane looks like. That would be a great leap forward for TSA.
I can’t seem to find a photo of this guy.
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