Ex-Army officer nominated for TSA post

Ex-Army officer nominated for TSA post

Harding

   The White House announced Monday that President Obama intends to nominate retired Army Major Gen. Robert A. Harding as administrator of the Transportation Security Administration.
   He is the second candidate for the job after Erroll Southers, a police chief with the Los Angeles World Airports, withdrew his name for consideration in January because of questions about how he handled a background check on a personal matter during his tenure at the FBI many years ago.
   Harding’s background in intelligence matters is expected to be a key attribute following the Christmas Day bombing attempt of a jetliner in which authorities missed several signals that the young Nigerian al-Qaeda operative was a potential threat. Harding retired in 2001 as the service’s deputy for intelligence. He was the director for operations at the Defense Intelligence Agency for four years, responsible for managing more than $1 billion in intelligence collection program and providing security for defense attach’s in more than 200 embassies and offices around the world. Harding also served from 1995 to 1996 as director for intelligence for U.S. Southern Command where he planned and executed operations in collaboration with Latin American allies as well as the FBI, CIA, Drug Enforcement Agency, Customs and the Defense Intelligence Agency.
   The 33-year Army veteran founded his own company, Harding Security Associates, in 2003 and sold it last July. The company provides analysis and advice to U.S. government agencies.
   Harding served on Obama’s transition team reviewing intelligence matters.
   The TSA’s primary job is providing security at airports and screening passengers before they board airlines. The agency is also responsible for the Federal Air Marshal Service, air cargo security and overseeing security for highways, railroads, buses, mass transit systems and ports.

Napolitano

   ‘Effective transportation security involves protecting our citizens from constantly evolving threats while facilitating legal travel and trade around the country and throughout the world,’ Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano said in a statement. ‘Bob’s national security expertise and extensive experience in the intelligence community and U.S. Army will be a great asset to the department in our efforts to ensure the safety of the nation’s transportation systems.’
   Harding is likely to be asked during the confirmation process about his position on unionizing the TSA workforce at airports. Sen. Jim DeMint, R-S.C., put a hold on Southers’ nomination because of concerns that the administration intended to permit workers to form a union.