Saturday, March 13, 2010

The new pick for head of TSA is Robert Harding

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 plenty 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 was in the service of the U.S. Army for 33 years. Harding was a "senior human intelligence officer" in the Defense Intelligence Agency, the military component of the U.S. intelligence community – much like the CIA, but with a concentration 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 was responsible for the military intelligence covering Central America, South America, and the Caribbean. In this position, he was in charge of planning and executing all intelligence operations in this area, which most likely included dealing with getting armed forces loans for his agents when necessary.

Robert A. Harding’s Decorations in Military Service

From 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 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. Robert Harding himself sold Harding Security Associates in 2009.

Harding nominated to head the Transportation Security Administration

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. Robert Harding will most likely be fairly easily confirmed by the Senate.

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. 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 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 is a hard dollar, but President Obama believes Robert A. Harding is up to doing some credit repair for the agency.



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