Harry B. Harris Jr.

Harry Binkley Harris Jr.[1] (born August 4, 1956)[2] is an American diplomat and former U.S. Navy officer who is the current United States Ambassador to South Korea. He was the first American of Japanese descent to lead US Pacific Command in the U.S. Navy and was the highest-ranking American of Japanese descent in the U.S. military during his time as commander.[3][4]

Harry B. Harris Jr.
United States Ambassador to South Korea
Assumed office
July 25, 2018
PresidentDonald Trump
Preceded byMark Lippert (2017)
Commander of United States Indo-Pacific Command
In office
May 27, 2015 – May 30, 2018
PresidentBarack Obama
Donald Trump
Preceded bySamuel J. Locklear
Succeeded byPhilip S. Davidson
Personal details
Born
Harry Binkley Harris Jr.

(1956-08-04) August 4, 1956
Yokosuka, Japan
EducationUnited States Naval Academy (BS)
Harvard University (MPA)
Georgetown University (MA)
Military service
Allegiance United States
Branch/service United States Navy
Years of service1978–2018
Rank Admiral
CommandsUnited States Pacific Command
United States Pacific Fleet
U.S. Sixth Fleet
 • Naval Striking and Support Forces NATO
JTF Guantanamo
Patrol and Reconnaissance Wing 1
VP-46
Battles/warsOperation Attain Document III
Persian Gulf War
 • Operation Desert Shield
 • Operation Desert Storm
Operation Earnest Will
Operation Southern Watch
War in Afghanistan
Iraq War
  • Operation Iraqi Freedom

Libyan Civil War

AwardsDefense Distinguished Service Medal (2)
Navy Distinguished Service Medal (3)
Defense Superior Service Medal (3)
Legion of Merit (3)
Bronze Star (2)
Meritorious Service Medal (4)
Air Medal with bronze Strike/Flight numeral 1
Distinguished Honor Award

Born in Japan, he is also the first 4-star admiral to have participated in the Navy Junior Reserve Officers' Training Corps (NJROTC)[5] and the first officer from the U.S. Navy's P-3 Orion maritime patrol aviation community to achieve 4-star rank. While a vice admiral, he served as the Assistant to the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.[6] Harris was Commander, U.S. Pacific Fleet in Hawaii from 2013–2015.[7] He took command of USPACOM on May 27, 2015, and retired from Naval service on June 1, 2018.[3][8]

Harris is a 1978 graduate of the United States Naval Academy at Annapolis. He was the U.S. Navy's "Old Goat" – the longest-serving Naval Academy graduate still on active duty – from January 2017 until April 2018, when he passed the title on to his classmate, Admiral Kurt W. Tidd, in a private ceremony at the Pentagon.[9] He was also the Navy's 15th "Gray Owl" – the Naval Flight Officer on active duty who has held this designation the longest period. Harris passed the Gray Owl to Vice Admiral Herman A. Shelanski at the National Naval Aviation Museum's 2018 Naval Aviation Symposium.[10] Governor Rick Perry designated him as an Admiral in the Texas Navy on July 18, 2006.[11]

On June 29, 2018, Harris was sworn in as the United States Ambassador to South Korea.[12]

Early life and education

He was born in Yokosuka, Japan in 1956.[4][13] His mother, Fumiko (Ohno), was Japanese[14] and his father, LTJG Harry Binkley Harris, was a U.S. Navy Machinist's Mate (and later chief petty officer) when he served aboard the USS Lexington (CV-2) during the Battle of the Coral Sea.[15] After his family's move to the United States, Harris grew up in Crossville, Tennessee and Pensacola, Florida, where he attended local public schools.[16]

Career

Harris graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy in 1978. He majored in general engineering and was a varsity fencer.

After flight training, he was designated as a Naval Flight Officer and assigned to Patrol Squadron Forty-Four (VP-44), homeported at Naval Air Station Brunswick, Maine. He flew the P-3C Orion, deploying throughout the Pacific, Indian and Atlantic Oceans, and Mediterranean Sea. His subsequent operational tours include assignment as a Tactical Action Officer on board USS Saratoga, to include participation in dealing with the Achille Lauro hijacking and the 1986 air strikes against Libya (Operation Attain Document III[17]). He served as Operations Officer in Patrol Squadron Four (VP-4) at Naval Air Station Barbers Point, Hawaii, deploying to Southwest Asia during Operations Desert Shield/Desert Storm. He had three tours with Patrol and Reconnaissance Wing 1/Task Force 57/Task Force 72, homeported in Kami Seya, Japan. During his earlier tours with Patrol and Reconnaissance Wing 1, Harris participated in Operations Earnest Will and Southern Watch.

In 2002, he reported to Commander, U.S. Naval Forces Central Command / U.S. Fifth Fleet in Manama, Bahrain, serving as Assistant Chief of Staff for Operations, Plans, and Pol-Mil Affairs (N3/N5). He was responsible for the planning and execution of the Naval component's portion of Operation Iraqi Freedom, which began on March 19, 2003.

His aviation command assignments include Patrol Squadron Forty-Six (VP-46) at Naval Air Station Whidbey Island, Washington, and Patrol and Reconnaissance Wing 1/CTF 57/CTF 72 at Kami Seya, Japan. Task Force 57, the U.S. 5th Fleet maritime patrol and reconnaissance aircraft force, was heavily involved in Operation Enduring Freedom as squadrons and aircrews under his command flew nearly 1,000 P-3 and EP-3 surveillance and reconnaissance sorties over Afghanistan. Additional Flag Officer command assignments included Joint Task Force Guantanamo in Cuba, U.S. Sixth Fleet / Naval Striking and Support Forces NATO in Italy, and the U.S. Pacific Fleet.

Harris' shore assignments include Aide and Flag Lieutenant to the Commander, U.S. Naval Forces Japan in Yokosuka, Japan; three tours on the staff of the Chief of Naval Operations to include two flag officer tours and a tour as a strategist in the Strategy and Concepts Branch; Chief Speechwriter to the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff; and Assistant to the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. His Flag assignments are described below.

Harris receiving the South Korean Tong-il national defense medal in 2014

His educational assignments include selection for the Navy's Harvard/Tufts Program, where he graduated with a Master's of Public Administration from Harvard's John F. Kennedy School of Government in 1992. Subsequently, selected as an Arthur S. Moreau Scholar, he studied international relations and ethics of war at Oxford and Georgetown University, earning a Master of Arts in National Security Studies from the latter in 1994. While at Georgetown, he was a Fellow in the School of Foreign Service. He was also an MIT Seminar 21 fellow for the 1999–2000 class.

Harris has logged 4400 flight hours – including over 400 combat hours – in U.S. and foreign maritime patrol and reconnaissance aircraft. He is a recipient of the Navy League's Stephen Decatur Award for Operational Competence and the CIA's Agency Seal Medal. For his work in diversity and leadership, he has also received the NECO Ellis Island Medal of Honor, the APAICS Lifetime Achievement Award, the WWAAC Community Spirit Award, and the AAGEN Distinguished Lifetime Achievement Award.[3] In 2017, Harris was named an Honorary Chief Petty Officer by Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy Steven S. Giordano in recognition of his leadership and "extraordinary dedication to the Navy's core values of honor, courage, and commitment.[18]" He is a member of the Council on Foreign Relations.[19]

Adm. Harris thanking a 442nd Regimental Combat Team veteran for his contributions in World War II during a 2014 ceremony

Director, Current Operations and Anti-Terrorism/Force Protection Division (OPNAV N31/34)

In August 2004, in his first Flag assignment, he reported to the staff of the Chief of Naval Operations, where he was responsible for Navy current operations, the Navy Command Center, and anti-terrorism/force protection policy.

Commander, Joint Task Force Guantanamo

In March 2006, he assumed command of Joint Task Force Guantanamo in Cuba. His service was notable as he was in charge when three prisoners, Mani Shaman Turki al-Habardi Al-Utaybi, Salah Ali Abdullah Ahmed al-Salami and Yasser Talal Al Zahrani, died in the custody of US forces. Defense reported the deaths as suicides. Harris said at the time,

I believe this was not an act of desperation, but an act of asymmetrical warfare waged against us.[20]

Harris ordered a full investigation by the Naval Criminal Investigative Service (NCIS), which published its report in a heavily redacted version in August 2008.

Main article: Guantanamo Bay homicide accusations
Main article: Guantanamo Bay detention camp suicide attempts

A report, Death in Camp Delta, was published in December 2009 by the Center for Policy & Research of Seton Hall University School of Law, under the supervision of its director, Professor Mark Denbeaux, attorney for two Guantanamo detainees, criticizing numerous inconsistencies in the official accounts of these deaths.[21][22][23] The report suggested there had either been gross negligence or an attempt to cover up homicides of the men, perhaps due to torture under interrogation.

On 18 January 2010, Scott Horton of Harper's Magazine published a story suggesting that al-Salami, Al-Utaybi and Al-Zahrani had died as a result of accidental manslaughter during a torture session, and that the official account was a cover-up.[20] Horton had undertaken a joint investigation with NBC News, based on an account by four former guards at Guantanamo Bay detention camp. They suggested that the men had died at a black site, informally called "Camp No," used for interrogation including torture. It was located about a mile outside the regular camp boundaries.[20]

Director of Operations, U.S. Southern Command

From June 2007 to April 2008, Harris served as Director of Operations (J3) for U.S. Southern Command in Miami. He led the joint planning effort for Operation Willing Spirit[24] (the rescue of American hostages held hostage in Colombia).

Deputy Chief of Naval Operations (OPNAV N6)
Adm. Harris wearing Google Glass during a presentation at AFCEA West in February 2014

Harris returned to the Pentagon to serve as the Deputy Chief of Naval Operations for Communication Networks (OPNAV N6) and the Deputy Department of the Navy Chief Information Officer (Navy) until November 2009. He was responsible for early resource sponsor decisions for the Consolidated Afloat Networks and Enterprise Services (CANES), Next Generation Enterprise Network (NGEN), Mobile User Objective System (MUOS) and Maritime Domain Awareness (MDA).

Commander, U.S. Sixth Fleet

In November 2009, Harris assumed command of the U.S. 6th Fleet and the Striking and Support Forces NATO, both headquartered in Naples, Italy. He concurrently served as Deputy Commander, U.S. Naval Forces Europe and Deputy Commander, U.S. Naval Forces Africa. In 2011, he was designated as the Joint Force Maritime Component Commander (JFMCC) for Operation Odyssey Dawn, the U.S.-led coalition operation against Libya.

Assistant to the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff

In October 2011, he assumed the position of Assistant to the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. In this capacity, he served as the Chairman's direct representative to the U.S. Secretary of State. He was also the designated U.S. Roadmap Monitor for the Middle East Peace Process.

Commander, U.S. Pacific Fleet

Harris was promoted to Admiral and assumed command of the US Pacific Fleet on October 16, 2013.[25] He has been critical of Chinese land reclamation activities in the South China Sea saying "(China is) creating a great wall of sand".[26]

Commander, U.S. Pacific Command
Harris as USPACOM commander

Harris was nominated on September 22, 2014, by President Barack Obama to command the US Pacific Command.[27][28] His appointment was confirmed by the Senate on December 11, 2014.[29][30] Harris took command of USPACOM on May 27, 2015. He regarded North Korea as the biggest threat to security in Asia, calling for diplomacy backed by military power to "bring Kim Jong-Un to his senses; not to his knees" in pursuit of peaceful denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula.[31][32][33]

ADM Harris and his wife visiting the USS Arizona Memorial, with President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump in 2017

In December 2016, Harris led the military commemoration activities for the 75th anniversary of the attacks on Pearl Harbor and Oahu. On 5 December, he paid tribute to Japanese-Americans who served in World War II.[34] He delivered the keynote speech during National Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day, 7 December,[35] and accompanied President Barack Obama and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzō Abe to render honors at the USS Arizona Memorial on 27 December. The visit – the first by a Japanese Prime Minister to the Memorial – was hailed by President Obama as "a historic gesture of reconciliation."[36]

U.S. Ambassador to South Korea

Harris was nominated by President Donald Trump to serve as U.S. Ambassador to Australia in February 2018, but was renominated to become Ambassador to South Korea by Trump at the suggestion of newly sworn-in Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on May 23, 2018.[37][38]

Harris was confirmed by the U.S. Senate to serve as Ambassador to South Korea by voice vote on June 28, 2018.[39] On June 29, 2018, Harris was officially sworn in as the new United States Ambassador to South Korea.[40]

One of the major issues Harris had to take forward was increasing South Korea's share of the costs for joint security responsibilities, which President Trump wished to see increased from $830 million to about $5 billion annually.[41]

Some South Korean activists criticized Harris over his mustache, which they claimed was reminiscent of Japanese-appointed Governors-General (Itō Hirobumi) during Japanese rule over Korea. Harris disagreed with the criticisms and suggested they stemmed from his racial heritage.[42][43] Harris shaved off his mustache in July 2020.[44][45]

In April 2020, Harris was reportedly planning on stepping down as ambassador in the coming months.[46] In late April Harris disclosed that a Global Hawk surveillance UAV had been supplied to the Republic of Korea Air Force, contrary to the previous practice of not disclosing new surveillance assets regarded as classified. This received criticism in South Korea.[47][48]

Awards and decorations
Naval Flight Officer insignia
Defense Distinguished Service Medal with one bronze oak leaf cluster
Navy Distinguished Service Medal with 2 gold award stars Defense Superior Service Medal with two bronze oak leaf clusters Legion of Merit with 2 award stars
Bronze Star with 1 award star Meritorious Service Medal with 3 award stars Air Medal with bronze Strike/Flight numeral 1
Joint Service Commendation Medal Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal with 4 award stars Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal
Joint Meritorious Unit Award Navy Unit Commendation with 3 bronze service stars Navy Meritorious Unit Commendation with 1 service star
Navy E Ribbon with 3 Battle "E" devices Department of State Distinguished Honor Award Navy Expeditionary Medal with 1 service star
National Defense Service Medal with 2 service stars Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal Southwest Asia Service Medal with 3 service stars
Afghanistan Campaign Medal with 1 service star Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal Global War on Terrorism Service Medal
Military Outstanding Volunteer Service Medal Navy Sea Service Deployment Ribbon with 4 service stars Navy & Marine Corps Overseas Service Ribbon with 2 silver and 2 bronze service stars
Order of National Security Merit, Tong-il Medal (Republic of Korea)[49][50] Meritorious Service Medal (Military) (Singapore)[51] Legion of Honour, Officier Degree (France)
Order of the Rising Sun (Japan) Legion of Honor, Komandante Degree (Philippines) Medal for International Military Cooperation (Mongolia)
Order of Australia (military grade) Philippine Republic Presidential Unit Citation Kuwait Liberation Medal (Saudi Arabia)
Kuwait Liberation Medal (Kuwait) Navy Expert Rifleman Medal Navy Expert Pistol Shot Medal
Command at Sea insignia
United States Pacific Command badge

Foreign orders, decorations and medals

Personal life

Ambassador Harris is married to Brunhilde Kempf "Bruni" Bradley.[53][54] Bruni Bradley is a 1984 Naval Academy graduate[55] and former Navy commander[56] who retired after 25 years of service and now is a member of the board of directors for the Military Child Education Coalition.[57]

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References
  2. "NOMINATIONS BEFORE THE SENATE ARMED SERVICES COMMITTEE, SEC- OND SESSION, 113TH CONGRESS" (PDF). Congress.gov. 2 December 2014. Archived from the original (PDF) on 6 October 2015.
  3. "Command Biography". U.S. Pacific Command. Archived from the original on 16 June 2016. Retrieved 1 February 2017.
  4. Steele, Jeanette (July 12, 2014). "In Pacific, 1st Asian-American fleet leader". San Diego Union-Tribune. Retrieved June 1, 2015.
  5. Miller, Michael F. (19 April 2017). "From Four Bars to Four Stars: First NJROTC Cadet to Reach Full Admiral Speaks to Navy's Newest Sailors". U.S. Navy. Naval Service Training Command Public Affairs. Retrieved 24 June 2017.
  6. "U.S. Navy Official Web Site". U.S. Department of the Navy.
  7. McAvoy, Audrey (October 16, 2013). "New commander takes over U.S. Pacific Fleet". Honolulu Star Advertiser. Retrieved October 17, 2013.
  8. Carter, Ash. "U.S. Pacific Command Change of Command". U.S. Department of Defense. Retrieved 5 January 2016.
  9. Garamone, Jim (April 11, 2018). "Pacom's Harris Passes 'Old Goat' Award to Southcom's Tidd". U.S. Department of Defense. DOD News. Retrieved 19 May 2018.
  10. "Museum Foundation to Host Naval Aviation Symposium". 25 April 2018. Retrieved 19 May 2018.
  11. "Texas Navy" (PDF).
  12. Yong-soo, Lee (6 July 2018). "New U.S. Ambassador Says Hello to S.Koreans". The Chosun Ilbo.
  13. Marquis Who's Who
  14. Spitzer, Kirk (May 25, 2015). "The New Head of the U.S. Pacific Command Talks to TIME About the Pivot to Asia and His Asian Roots". TIME. Retrieved June 1, 2015.
  15. Billionaire explorer discovers sunken US WWII aircraft carrier
  16. "Official biography: Harry Harris". US Department of Defense.
  17. Action in the Gulf of Sidra (1986)
  18. "PACOM Recognizes Vital Leadership During Navy Chief Pinning Ceremony; Harris Made Honorary Chief Petty Officer". U.S. Pacific Command. 19 September 2017. Retrieved 3 October 2017.
  19. "Council on Foreign Relations". Council on Foreign Relations. Retrieved 2019-03-14.
  20. "The Guantánamo "Suicides": A Camp Delta sergeant blows the whistle". Harper's Magazine. 18 January 2010.
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  22. "Death in Camp Delta" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2016-04-12. Retrieved 2010-01-21.
  23. Mark P. Denbeaux Faculty Profile, Seton Hall University School of Law
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  33. "U.S. Pacific Commander: Military-backed diplomacy needed to deal with North Korea". Reuters. 15 November 2017. Retrieved 13 December 2017.
  34. Adm. Harry B. Harris, Jr. "Americans of Japanese Ancestry (AJA) Nisei Veteran Tribute". U.S. Pacific Command. Retrieved 1 February 2017.
  35. Adm. Harry B. Harris, Jr. "National Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day Commemoration". U.S. Pacific Command. Retrieved 1 February 2017.
  36. "Obama, Abe remember Pearl Harbor dead in historic Arizona Memorial visit". Honolulu Star-Advertiser. 27 December 2016. Retrieved 1 February 2017.
  37. Lahiri, Tripti. "The US's new South Korea ambassador wants Kim Jong Un "to come to his senses and not his knees"". Quartz. Retrieved July 1, 2018.
  38. Rogin, Josh. "Pompeo planning to switch Australia ambassador nominee to South Korea". The Washington Post. Retrieved July 1, 2018.
  39. United States Senate. "PN2024 — Harry B. Harris Jr. — Department of State". Retrieved July 1, 2018.
  40. United States Department of State
  41. Bosco, Joseph (24 January 2020). "South Korea and the billion mustache". The Hill. Washington DC. Retrieved 21 April 2020.
  42. "Harry Harris: South Koreans bristle at US envoy's moustache". BBC News. January 17, 2020. Retrieved January 17, 2020.
  43. Berlinger, Joshua (January 17, 2020), Racism, history and politics: Why South Koreans are flipping out over a US ambassador's mustache, CNN, retrieved January 19, 2020
  44. Hyonhee, Shin (July 27, 2020). "U.S. envoy to S.Korea shaves off moustache after debate over Japanese heritage". Reuters. Retrieved July 27, 2020.
  45. "US ambassador shaves mustache under Seoul's summer heat". Associated Press. July 28, 2020. Retrieved July 28, 2020.
  46. Shin, Hyonhee (April 8, 2020). "Exclusive: U.S. ambassador to South Korea is discussing plans to resign - sources". Reuters. Retrieved April 11, 2020.
  47. Seok-min, Oh (20 April 2020). "U.S. ambassador's tweet on Global Hawk sparks controversy over publicity of sensitive military assets". Yonhap News Agency. Retrieved 21 April 2020.
  48. Ji-won, Noh (21 April 2020). "Harry Harris posts photo of strategic asset acquired by S. Korean military despite Seoul's objections". The Hankyoreh. Retrieved 21 April 2020.
  49. Song, Sang-ho (3 November 2014). "U.S. Pacific Fleet chief gets Seoul's national security medal". The Korea Herald. Retrieved 12 November 2014.
  50. Abrahamson, Arlo (3 November 2014). "Adm. Harris Awarded Korean Tong-il National Defense Medal". United States Pacific Fleet. U.S. Naval Forces Korea. Retrieved 23 October 2017.
  51. "Commander of the US Pacific Command Receives Prestigious Military Award". Singapore Ministry of Defence. 17 October 2017. Retrieved 23 October 2017.
  52. https://d2v9ipibika81v.cloudfront.net/uploads/sites/82/2016/04/3-3.jpg
  53. "U.S. Pacific Command Change of Command As Delivered by Admiral Harry B. Harris, Jr". U.S. Pacific Command. 29 May 2015. Retrieved 6 November 2017.
  54. "PN1785 — Navy". U.S. Congress. 28 September 1994. Retrieved 6 November 2017.
  55. "PN657 — Civilian". U.S. Congress. 9 February 1984. Retrieved 6 November 2017.
  56. "PN1110 — Navy". U.S. Congress. 27 June 2000. Retrieved 6 November 2017.
  57. "Bruni Bradley". Military Child Education Coalition. Retrieved 6 November 2017.
Military offices
Preceded by
Samuel J. Locklear		 Commander of the United States Pacific Command
2015–2018		 Succeeded by
Philip S. Davidson
Diplomatic posts
Preceded by
Mark Lippert		 United States Ambassador to South Korea
2018–present		 Incumbent
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