Robert Harward

Robert Stiles Harward Jr. (born 1956 ) is a retired United States Navy SEAL and a former Deputy Commander of the United States Central Command, under the leadership command of General James Mattis. After working as a chief executive at Lockheed Martin's Middle East business division for eight years, he joined Shield AI as executive vice president for International Business and Strategy. He served as the Deputy Commander of U.S. Joint Forces Command and commanded Combined Joint Interagency Task Force 435.

After the resignation of Michael T. Flynn, U.S. President Donald Trump offered him the position of National Security Advisor on February 14, 2017. He declined the offer on February 16. While Harward cited family commitments as his reason for refusing the role, news sources reported that Harward was unable to agree with Trump over his scope to make his own appointments to his team.

Early life and education Harward was born into a U.S. 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 on many teams, including basketball, wrestling, track, and Tehran American School and International School football teams. Harward was said to be popular with his classmates and became familiar with the people and culture of Iran. He graduated from the Tehran American School in Iran in 1974. Harward speaks Persian. 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).

Military career

Harward reported to Surface Warfare Officer School in Newport with follow-on orders to the . After completing a South American deployment, 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 and 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.;

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. 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. Harward retired in November 2013 after 34 years of military service.

In January 2014, Harward became the chief executive of Lockheed Martin United Arab Emirates.

Following the resignation of Michael T. Flynn as National Security Advisor on February 13, 2017, Harward was named as a possible replacement. President Donald Trump offered Harward the position on February 14, 2017. Harward declined the position on February 16. Media reports cited sources indicating that Harward was unable to agree with Trump over making his own appointments to his team.

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

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

Awards and decorations Navy Expert Pistol Shot MedalU.S. badges, patches and tabs 200px Naval Special Warfare insignia 200px Surface Warfare insignia 200px Navy and Marine Corps Parachutist Insignia 125px Joint Chiefs of Staff Identification Badge 125px CENTCOM Staff Identification Badge 125px Presidential Service Badge