Robert Harding is the Obama pick to head 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. He has plenty of security experience, and with 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.
Robert Harding's experience as an Army General
Robert A. Harding served in the U.S. Army for 33 years. Harding was a “senior human intelligence officer” of the Defense Intelligence Agency, which is a part of the U.S. intelligence community, which 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. In this post, 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 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.” Obviously, his CV from the military puts Harding in a position for easy Senate confirmation.
Harding Security Associates
After leaving the military in 2001, Robert A. Harding launched 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. Harding sold Harding Security Associates in 2009.
Harding nominated to head the Transportation Security Administration
Robert A. Harding was not Obama's original pick. 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. The objection was that Southers would potentially create a screener's union, that would increase cost of labor if it were to have happened. 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. Screening airline passengers and baggage is a large issue for security, intelligence, and public relations. Many airline passengers are becoming increasingly frustrated with the long wait times and strict regulations they must comply with. Full-body scanners are also currently in testing at some TSA station, which is raising very serious privacy concerns. 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 up to doing some credit repair for the agency.
