Obama nominates Robert A. Harding to head the TSA

Robert A. Harding, a retired Army General and security company head, is rumored to be the White House’s pick to lead the embattled Transportation Security Administration. 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.

Robert Harding’s experience as an Army General

Robert A. Harding served in the U.S. Army for over three decades. 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 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 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 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 started 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.

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. The original choice was Erroll Southers, an airport police official at LAX. 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.

The TSA is 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 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.