The World Between Us
Robert (Bob) Stiles Harward Jr. is a retired United States Navy Vice Admiral, former Navy SEAL, and international corporate executive. Born in 1956 into a military family, he spent his teenage years in pre-revolutionary Iran, where his father advised the Iranian military. He graduated from the Tehran American School in 1974, playing multiple sports and becoming highly familiar with the region's people and culture. This early exposure allowed him to become fluent in Farsi. He later graduated from the United States Naval Academy in 1979 and completed advanced programs at the Naval War College, the Armed Forces Staff College, and MIT.During a military career spanning nearly forty years, Harward became a highly decorated Navy SEAL, graduating as the honor man of his BUD/S class in July 1984. He went on to command SEAL Team THREE and Naval Special Warfare Group ONE. Following the September 11 attacks, he deployed to Afghanistan to lead Task Force K-Bar, a multinational special operations force that directed special reconnaissance and direct action missions. The task force was highly successful and was awarded the Presidential Unit Citation. He later commanded Task Force 561 during the initial invasion of Iraq. Harward served in numerous combat zones throughout his career, including Panama, Somalia, Bosnia, Yemen, Afghanistan, and Iraq, and is notably recognized for never losing a single man under his command. He culminated his military service as Deputy Commander of the U.S. Joint Forces Command and subsequently as Deputy Commander of the U.S. Central Command before retiring in November 2013.In government, Harward served on the National Security Council during the Bush administration as the director of Strategy and Defense Issues, and he helped commission the National Counterterrorism Center. In February 2017, the President of the United States offered him the position of National Security Advisor. Harward ultimately declined the role; while he publicly cited personal and financial reasons, it was widely reported that the decision stemmed from a disagreement over his ability to appoint his own team, particularly over retaining the existing deputy.In his civilian career, Harward served as the Chief Executive for Lockheed Martin Middle East for eight years. Living in Abu Dhabi, he was recognized as one of the region's most influential CEOs. He later became the Executive Vice President for International Business and Strategy at Shield AI, an artificial intelligence-focused defense technology company.Harward's leadership philosophy is heavily influenced by "The Gouge," a World War II Navy term referring to the proactive sharing of vital knowledge to prepare for emergencies. He authored a book on the subject, describing this philosophy as a contract to share the best of everyone for the collective well-being of all.Beyond his professional achievements, Harward is a professional parachutist. In October 2019, he set a world record for the highest parachute landing by touching down at the West Col Base Camp of Mount Everest, at an altitude of over 23,000 feet. He is also an avid participant in physical and intellectual competitions, enjoying chess, racquetball, golf, and squash. Most recently, in May 2026, he became the target of an unfounded viral internet conspiracy theory claiming he wore a prosthetic silicone mask during a national television interview, a rumor sparked entirely by digital video compression artifacts and lighting shadows. Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-world-between-us--6886561/support [https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-world-between-us--6886561/support?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=rss].
545 episodios
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