Robert Harward

For other people named Robert Harward, see Robert Harward (disambiguation).

Robert S. Harward
Harward in 2011
Birth name	Robert S. Harward, Jr.
Nickname(s)	"Bob"
Born	Newport, Rhode Island, U.S.
Allegiance	United States of America
Service/branch	United States Navy
Years of service	1975-2013
Rank	Vice admiral
Unit	U.S. Navy SEALs
Commands held	Deputy Commander, USCENTCOM SEAL Team 3 Naval Special Warfare Group 1 Task Force K-Bar Task Force 561 NSC Director of Strategy and Defense Issues
Battles/wars	Operation Enduring Freedom Operation Iraqi Freedom
Awards	Defense Distinguished Service Medal (3) Defense Superior Service Medal (4)

Robert S. "Bob" Harward, Jr. is a U.S. Navy SEAL and a former Deputy Commander of the United States Central Command, under the leadership coomand of General James "Mad Dog" Mattis. He also served as the Deputy Commander of U.S. Joint Forces Command and previously commanded Combined Joint Interagency Task Force 435.^[1] He also held the title of "Bull Frog" from 2011 until 2013 (longest serving Navy SEAL on active duty).

Early life and education

Harward was born into a Navy family in Newport, Rhode Island. Harward graduated from Tehran American School in 1974. After graduation from the Naval Academy Preparatory School in Newport he was awarded a fleet appointment to the United States Naval Academy and graduated in 1979. Harward is also a graduate of the College of Naval Command and Staff, the Naval Staff College and the Armed Forces Staff College. He holds a master’s degree in International Relations and Strategic Security Affairs, served as a federal executive fellow at RAND and is a graduate of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) Foreign Policy program.^[2]

Career

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 was ordered to Basic Underwater Demolition/SEAL training (BUD/S) where he graduated as the honor man of Class 128.^[2]

As a Navy SEAL officer Harward was platoon commander of SEAL Team 3, an assault team leader and operations officer at Naval Special Warfare Development Group, the executive officer of Naval Special Warfare Unit 1 and then the commanding officer SEAL Team 3. Harward was later appointed Naval Special Warfare task group commander for Operation Desert Thunder in Kuwait, Joint Special Operations task force commander for Operation Rugged Nautilus and deputy commander of the Combined Joint Special Operations Task Force in support of Operation Joint Forge in Bosnia.^[2]

Harward assumed command of Naval Special Warfare Group 1 in August 2001 and deployed shortly after September 11, 2001, to Afghanistan. He commanded 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 reported to the Executive Office of the President at the White House in August 2003. He served on the National Security Council staff as the director of Strategy and Defense Issues. In April 2005, Harward was assigned to the newly formed National Counterterrorism Center in Washington, as the Chairman, Joint Chiefs of Staff representative to the Senior Interagency Strategy Team.^[2]

From June 2006 to July 2008, Harward served as the Deputy Commanding General, Joint Special Operations Command, Fort Bragg, North Carolina, and has served multiple combat tours in Afghanistan and Iraq. On Nov. 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.^[3] 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.^[4]

Awards and decorations

Naval Special Warfare insignia
Surface Warfare insignia
Naval Parachutist insignia
Joint Chiefs of Staff Identification Badge
CENTCOM Staff Identification Badge
Presidential Service Badge

	Defense Distinguished Service Medal with two bronze oak leaf clusters
	Defense Superior Service Medal with three bronze oak leaf clusters
	Legion of Merit
	Bronze Star with Combat "V" and two gold award stars
	Defense Meritorious Service Medal with bronze oak leaf cluster
	Meritorious Service Medal with gold award star
	Joint Service Commendation Medal with bronze oak leaf cluster
	Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal with gold award star
	Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal with gold award star
	Combat Action Ribbon with gold award star
	Navy Presidential Unit Citation with one bronze service star
	Joint Meritorious Unit Award with bronze oak leaf cluster
	Navy Unit Commendation with one bronze service star
	Navy Meritorious Unit Commendation
	Fleet Marine Force Ribbon
	National Defense Service Medal with bronze service star
	Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal
	Southwest Asia Service Medal with bronze service star
	Afghanistan Campaign Medal with three bronze service stars
	Iraq Campaign Medal with bronze service star
	Global War on Terrorism Service Medal
	Armed Forces Service Medal
	Humanitarian Service Medal
	Navy Sea Service Deployment Ribbon with four bronze service stars
	Navy and Marine Corps Overseas Service Ribbon with two bronze service stars
	Bundeswehr Silver Cross of Honor
	NATO Medal for Former Yugoslavia
	Navy Expert Rifleman Medal
	Navy Expert Pistol Shot Medal