Top Ranking Air Force Attorney Speaks on Lessons of 9/11

The former top ranking attorney for the U.S. Air Force will speak on national security issues at noon on Wednesday, February 3, in the Hermann Lounge on the campus of Westminster College.

Lt. General Richard Harding will speak on “Safeguarding the Nation: Lessons of 9/11.”

Lt. General Harding was the Judge Advocate General (TJAG) at U.S. Air Force headquarters in Washington, D.C.  In that position, he served as the Legal Advisor to the Secretary of the Air Force and all offices and agencies of the Department of the Air Force.

He directed all judge advocates in the performance of their duties and was responsible for the professional oversight of more than 2,200 judge advocates, 350 civilian attorneys, 1,400 enlisted paralegals and 500 civilians in the Total Force Judge Advocate’s Corps worldwide.    He oversaw military justice, operational and international law and civil law functions at every level of command.

The son of an Air Force officer and grandson of a Naval officer, Lt. General Harding entered the Air Force with a direct commission in 1980.  Prior to assuming his last position, he served as the Commander of the Air Force Legal Operations Agency at Bolling Air Force Base in Washington, D.C.

He holds Juris Doctor and Bachelor of Science degrees from the University of Arkansas.

Westminster College is among a few select colleges and universities that offer a Security Studies major. Only 13 other undergraduate programs in the country offer a similar or related degree.