John Scott Redd

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John Scott Redd
John Scott Redd

John Scott Redd was the first Senate-confirmed Director of the National Counterterrorism Center of the United States. He held the office from August 1, 2005 until Nov. 10, 2007.[1] According to David Martin at the CBS Evening News, "Scott Redd may be the most important person you've never heard of."[2] J.J. Green at Federal News Radio referred to Redd as "the man that I often call 'E.F. Hutton'."[3]

The NCTC has two core missions. The first is to serve as the primary organization in the US Government for analysis and integration of all terrorism intelligence. In this role, VADM Redd reported to J. M. McConnell, the Director of National Intelligence. The second mission is to conduct strategic operational planning for counterterrorism activities integrating all elements of U.S. national power. In this role, he reported to President Bush. The Director of NCTC is a Presidential appointee at the deputy cabinet officer level.


Prior to NCTC, VADM Redd served as Executive Director for the Commission on the Intelligence Capabilities of the United States Regarding Weapons of Mass Destruction sometimes known as the WMD Intelligence Commission. The Commission's report was adopted as the President's blueprint for implementation of Intelligence Community reform. Earlier in 2004, VADM Redd served as Deputy Administrator and Chief Operating Officer (COO) of the Coalition Provisional Authority (CPA) in Baghdad, Iraq.[4]

A native of Sidney, Iowa, VADM Redd graduated from the United States Naval Academy in the class of 1966. A Trident Scholar, he majored in mathematics and physics. Following graduation, he studied as a Fulbright Scholar in Uruguay and as a Burke Scholar, receiving a Master of Science degree in Operations Analysis from the Naval Postgraduate School. He also attended the Program for Senior Executives at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT).

During his 36 years of active duty service he commanded eight organizations and served in several senior policy positions in the Pentagon. His last assignment on active duty was as Director of Strategic Plans and Policy (DJ-5) on the Joint Staff. In 1995, he founded the only new US Navy Fleet in half a century, serving as the first Commander FIFTH Fleet(COMFIFTHFLT) since the World War II era. VADM Redd retired from active military service in 1998.

Following retirement from the Navy he served as CEO of NetSchools Corp., a high-tech start-up company in the education sector. He is past President of the Naval Academy Class of 1966 and has served on the advisory boards of several non-profit organizations. An avid amateur radio operator, VADM Redd has won seven world championships. Redd was born September 10, 1944 in Omaha, Nebraska.

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[edit] 1996

In 1996, Redd, the outgoing U.S. Navy Commander of the U.S. Fifth Fleet and of U.S. Naval Forces, Central Command said that in the past two years the rogue state of Iran has tripled the numbers of missiles deployed on its Gulf coast and is placing Chinese-built cruise missiles on up to 20 of its naval boats. Vice Admiral John Scott Redd said that Iran's acquisition of Chinese radar guided C-802 anti-ship missiles was a "new dimension" as a regional naval threat. The admiral said that Iran and Iraq continue to be the greatest security threat in the oil-rich Gulf region. He said that there were no threat indications against U.S naval forces after the 25 June 1996 terrorist bombing near Dhahran, Saudi Arabia. Though the admiral did say that the Navy had taken "prudent security measures." Redd explained, "Iraq is the major land threat in the region ... because it still has the most capable and largest ground force in the region, while Iran is more of a naval threat." He said that the outlaw nation of Iran is expected to soon have up to twenty patrol boats armed with the Chinese anti-ship cruise missiles.[5]

On June 6, 1996, Secretary of Defense William J. Perry announced that the President had nominated Vice Admiral John S. Redd, U.S. Navy, for reappointment to the grade of vice admiral and assignment as Director, Strategic Plans and Policy, J-5, Joint Staff in the Pentagon.[6]

[edit] 2007

On Oct. 5, 2007, dedication ceremonies were held for the Admiral John "Scott" Redd Highway--otherwise know as the Highway 2 bypass project winding its way around Sidney, IA[1].

In a letter to the Intelligence Community dated 17 October 2007, Vice Admiral Redd announced his intention to step down as Director of the NCTC, effective 10 November 2007. He cited medical concerns and the desire to spend more time with his family as reasons for his resignation.

However, some speculated he was forced out over comments he had recently made about the Iraq War: Asked by a reporter if the War had made the United States safer, Mr. Redd replied, "tactically, probably not." And when asked if the War constitutes a "giant recruiting tool" for terrorists, he replied, "In the short term, that is probably true. But the question is you've got to look at this, I believe, in the long term strategic view." [7]

However, this speculation by the blogosphere, which was erroneously repeated by Newsweek four months later, [8]doesn't square with Redd's comments about the war on terror that were made throughout, and after, his tenure at NCTC. [9][10][11][12][13][14] [15][16] [17] [18] A spokesman disputed this liberal speculation and said that Redd, 63, needed to have both of his knees replaced, which would require a long period of rehabilitation during which he could not work. NCTC spokesman Carl Kropf said Redd's decision to leave was "absolutely not" related to his comments, and that he had not been pressured in any way to step down. In a statement released Oct 17, 2007, Director of National Intelligence Mike McConnell thanked Redd for his service.[19] "I know his decision to step down was difficult," McConnell said. A spokesman for his office said there was "no pressure whatsoever" on Redd to resign.[20]

Nov. 9, 2007, Director of National Intelligence Mike McConnell awarded Redd the National Intelligence Distinguished Service Medal for his exceptional contributions to the Intelligence Community and defense of the nation. The National Intelligence Distinguished Service Medal is an honorary award that recognizes “sustained, selfless service of the highest order and/or extraordinary and long-lasting contributions to the Intelligence Community and the United States by an individual in a position of great responsibility.” [21]

[edit] 2008

On May 16, 2008, he was inducted into the CQ Amateur Radio Hall of Fame. The CQ Amateur Radio Hall of Fame honors those individuals, whether licensed hams or not, who have made significant contributions to amateur radio; and those amateurs who have made significant contributions either to amateur radio, to their professional careers or to some other aspect of life on our planet. [22]

[edit] References

  1. ^ whitehouse.gov
  2. ^ tmcnet.com
  3. ^ Terror Matrix: The Current Threat Facing the U.S.
  4. ^ Scott Redd named Coalition Provisional Authority deputy administrator
  5. ^ Admiral Says Iran is Importing Chinese Anti-Ship Missiles
  6. ^ VADM JOHN S. REDD FOR REAPPOINTMENT TO THE GRADE OF VADM AND ASSIGNMENT
  7. ^ Hatred of U.S. drives al-Qaida recruiting, MSNBC, Richard Engel 2007-10-15.
  8. ^ Antiterror Help Wanted
  9. ^ Exclusive Interview with Vice Adm. Scott Redd
  10. ^ Imagination, collaboration keys to counterterrorism
  11. ^ Bolstering U.S. Intelligence
  12. ^ Protecting America from Terrorism
  13. ^ Admiral Redd's Interview With Federal News Radio's J.J. Green Protecting America from Terrorism
  14. ^ all speeches and testimony given by Admiral Redd in chronological order
  15. ^ For the Record
  16. ^ Eavesdropping Said to Help Break Up German Plot
  17. ^ Confronting the Terrorist Threat to the Homeland: Six Years After 9/11
  18. ^ 'Special Report' Panel on General Petraeus and the Anti-War Faction
  19. ^ [http://www.dni.gov/press_releases/20071017_release.pdf Statement by the Director of National Intelligence Mr. Mike McConnell]
  20. ^ DNI & NCTC say "no pressure to resign
  21. ^ DNI Awards National Intelligence Distinguished Service Medal to Former NCTC Director
  22. ^ CQ Announces 2008 Hall of Fame Inductees

[edit] See also

Preceded by
John O. Brennan		 Director of the National Counterterrorism Center
2005-2007		 Succeeded by
Michael E. Leiter