VADM Robert Harward, USN (ret.)
Bob Harward is Shield AI’s Executive Vice President for International Business and Strategy, where he brings his expertise and energy to the company’s current and prospective customers globally. Prior to joining Shield AI, Bob served as the Chief Executive for Lockheed Martin Middle East and was recognized by Forbes as one of the fifty (# 10) most influential CEOs in the Middle East while serving in this position. Bob has lived in Abu Dhabi for nine years.
A National Security Expert in both theory and application, he served on the National Security Council for the Bush administration, commissioned the National Counter Terrorism Center, and has extensive combat experience as a U.S. Navy SEAL, in Afghanistan, Iraq (he led invasions in both countries in Oct. 2001 and March 2003), Syria, Somalia, Yemen and Bosnia, as well as the rest of the Middle East.
Bob is a U.S. Naval Academy alum; he holds a master’s degree in International Security Affairs from the Naval War College and is a graduate of MIT’s Foreign Policy Program. He also served as an executive fellow at RAND. Prior to joining Shield AI, he was a chief executive at Lockheed Martin for eight years and a Vice Admiral (SEAL) in the United States Navy, with his last assignment as Deputy Commander, U.S. Central Command (USCENTCOM). He was asked by President Trump to serve as his National Security Advisor.
Bob grew up in Iran, graduated from the Tehran American School, and speaks Farsi. His significant recognitions include the Donovan Award from the CIA, the Distinguished Service Award from the Department of State, the German Silver Star, the Polish Silver Star, and he was designated a Commander of the Polish GROM (Special Operation Forces). The Department of Defense awarded him the Defense Distinguished Service Medal (three), the Navy Distinguished Service Medal, the Bronze Star with V device (four), and the Presidential Unit Citation (two) for combat operations in Afghanistan and Iraq. He was also recognized with the US Naval War
College Distinguished Graduate Leadership Award. Bob served on the Secretary of Defense’s Threat Reduction Advisory Committee (TRAC) as chair of the Counter Weapons of Mass Destruction Task Force, is an advisor to Draper Labs, is an adjunct, and sits on several commercial boards, to include Channel and USAA REALCO.
Bob is a professional parachutist and has performed all over the world. On Oct. 27, 2019, he set the World Record for the highest parachute landing on the West Col Base Camp of Mount Everest at over 23,000 feet. He enjoys all forms of physical and intellectual competition, particularly chess, racquetball, golf, and squash.
ADM Harward participated in our 2022 General and Admirals Program.
