John Scott Redd

Retired Vice Adm. John Scott Redd, named June 10, 2005, by President George W. Bush to lead the National Counterterrorism Center, announced October 17, 2007, that he was stepping down in November 2007 "to have a long-delayed surgery and spend more time with his five grandchildren and the rest of his family."

Earlier in the week, Redd told NBC News that "the nation is probably not 'tactically' safer from the threat of terrorism following the invasion of Iraq.

"Asked by reporter Richard Engel if the war in Iraq had created a 'giant recruiting tool' for terrorists, Center head Scott Redd said that 'in the short term, that is probably true. But the question is you’ve got to look at this, I believe, in the long term strategic view.'

"'Tactically, probably not,' Redd said in response to a question about whether the US is generally safer after having invaded Iraq. 'Strategically, we’ll wait and see.'"

Confirmed by the U.S. Senate July 28, 2005, Redd replaced John O. Brennan, then the Center's interim chief. Michael Leiter, the Center's deputy director, "will take over as acting head when Redd leaves."

Profiles
"Redd formerly was executive director of the Silberman-Robb presidential commission on intelligence." 

"Redd served 36 years in the U.S. Navy, commanding eight organizations at sea from a destroyer to a fleet. He founded and commanded the Navy's Fifth Fleet in the Middle East in 1995 and has held top policy posts at the Pentagon. Since retiring in 1998, he has served as chief executive officer of a high-tech education company and deputy administrator and chief operating officer of the now-defunct Coalition Provisional Authority in Iraq." 

External articles

 * Deb Reichmann, "Bush Names Counterterrorism Center Head," AP, June 10, 2005.
 * Mary Louise Kelly, "New Counterterrorism Center Slowly Finds its Way," NPR, June 10, 2005: "The creation of the National Counterterrorism Center was a centerpiece of last year's sweeping intelligence reform. But it has taken six months since its creation to have a director appointed. Now the president has named Vice Admiral John "Scott" Redd to run the group."
 * Faiz Shakir, "Days After Claiming U.S. Less Safe Due To Iraq War, Counterterrorism Chief Suddenly Resigns," Think Progress, October 17, 2007.