Robert Harward

Harward was born into a Navy family in Newport, Rhode Island. During his teenage years, Harward's father advised the pre-revolutionary Iranian military and the family lived in Tehran, Iran. While attending Tehran American School, Harward played sports against Iranian basketball, wrestling, and track teams; as well as other Tehran American School and International School football teams, was popular with his classmates and became familiar with the people and culture of Iran.[9] He graduated from the Tehran American School in Iran in 1974. He speaks Farsi.[10] He graduated from the Naval Academy Preparatory School in Newport, and then received his bachelor's degree from the United States Naval Academy in 1979.

Harward is also a graduate of the College of Naval Command and Staff at the Naval War College as well as the Armed Forces Staff College. He served as a federal executive fellow at RAND, and completed the Foreign Policy Program (Seminar XXI) at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT).[11]

Harward in Afghanistan, 2011

Harward reported to Surface Warfare Officer School in Newport with follow-on orders to the USS Scott (DDG-995). After completion of a South American deployment in support of Unitas XXIV, he received orders to Basic Underwater Demolition/SEAL training (BUD/S) at Naval Amphibious Base Coronado where he graduated as the honor man of BUD/S class 128 in July 1984. Following SEAL Tactical Training (STT) and completion of a six-month probationary period, he received the 1130 designator as a Naval Special Warfare Officer, entitled to wear the Special Warfare insignia. As a Navy SEAL officer Harward served as platoon commander with SEAL Team THREE and then completed a specialized selection and training course for assignment to Naval Special Warfare Development Group in 1988. Harward served as assault team leader and operations officer during which time he planned, rehearsed and operated during classified exercises and operations. Harward later earned a Master of Arts degree in National Security and Strategic Studies from the Naval War College. Harward served staff and command tours including Naval Special Warfare task group commander for Operation Desert Thunder in Kuwait; Joint Special Operations task force commander for Operation Rugged Nautilus; deputy commander of the Combined Joint Special Operations Task Force in support of Operation Joint Forge in Bosnia.;[11] Special Warfare Plans officer for Commander Amphibious Forces U.S. Seventh Fleet; Aide-de-Camp to Commander-in-Chief, USSOCOM; executive officer of Naval Special Warfare Unit ONE and commanding officer of SEAL Team THREE from 1996 to 1998.

As a Navy Captain, Harward assumed command of Naval Special Warfare Group ONE (NSWG 1) in August 2001 and deployed shortly after September 11 attacks, to Afghanistan. He commanded a special multinational task force CJSOTF-South, later renamed Task Force K-Bar and directed special reconnaissance and direct action missions throughout the country. In October 2002, Harward deployed as Commander, Task Force 561 where he commanded Naval Special Warfare Task Group Central in Iraq. His forces included all the assets in the Naval Special Warfare inventory as well as forces from the Polish GROM, the United Kingdom Royal Marines and the Kuwaiti Navy.

Harward relinquished command of NSWG 1 in August 2003 and reported to the Executive Office of the President at the White House. He served on the National Security Council staff as the director of Strategy and Defense Issues. In April 2005, Harward was assigned to the new National Counterterrorism Center in Washington, as the chairman, Joint Chiefs of Staff representative to the Senior Interagency Strategy Team.[11] From June 2006 to July 2008, Harward served as the Deputy Commanding General, Joint Special Operations Command, Fort Bragg, North Carolina, and he served multiple combat tours in Afghanistan and Iraq. He considered himself proud of helping to improve the situation of women on his duty.[12]

On November 3, 2008, Harward assumed the position of Deputy Commander, United States Joint Forces Command.

In 2011, Harward was reappointed to the rank of Vice Admiral and assigned to the position of Deputy Commander, United States Central Command led by General James Mattis.[13] In October 2013, he was replaced by VADM Mark I. Fox. On August 19, 2013, Harward was presented the Distinguished Graduate Leadership Award by the U.S. Naval War College. Established in 1996 by the NWC Foundation, the award honors NWC graduates who have attained positions of prominence in the field of national security.[14] Harward retired in November 2013 after 34 years of military service.

In January 2014, he became the Chief Executive of Lockheed Martin United Arab Emirates.[15]

Following the resignation of Michael T. Flynn as National Security Advisor on February 13, 2017, journalists identified Harward as one of the principal candidates to replace him.[16][17] President Donald Trump offered him the position on February 14, 2017.[18] Harward declined the position on February 16.[19] Media reports cited sources indicating that Harward was unable to agree with Trump over making his own appointments to his team.[20]

On September 4, 2019, Patriot One Technologies Inc., a threat detection technology company, announced that Harward had joined the company's Senior Advisory Board.[21]

On January 26, 2022, Shield AI, an AI-focused defense technology company, announced Harward as their Executive Vice President for International Business and Strategy.[4]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Robert Harward.

• "Official Navy Biography". United States Navy.
• "Citizen Soldier: SEAL The Unspoken Sacrifice". Pritzker Military Museum & Library.
• Robert Harward on ABC News
• Appearances on C-SPAN