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Richard David (“Dave”) Harden (August 9, 1962) is an American politician, lawyer, diplomat, and writer. He retired from the U.S. Foreign Service in 2018 and is currently the founder and Managing Director of the Georgetown Strategy Group.

Harden has stated publicly that he will soon enter the 1st congressional district Democratic primary to challenge Republican incumbent Andy Harris (R-Md.). Harden is a regular commentator on politics, economics, national security, and climate change.

Early life and education
Harden was born in Baltimore and raised in Westminster, Maryland on a small farm. He attended Carroll County public schools, graduating from Westminster High School.

Harden earned his Juris Doctor from Georgetown University, Master of Arts in Political Science from Columbia University, and Bachelor of Arts in Government from Franklin and Marshall College.

Government Service
In 2016, President Barack Obama nominated Harden to serve as the Assistant Administrator for USAID’s Bureau for Democracy, Conflict, and Humanitarian Assistance. He was unanimously confirmed by the United States Senate. While in the Senior Foreign Service, Harden led the United States Agency for International Development’s (USAID) response to the Yemen crisis for the Trump Administration from 2017-2018. During this time, Harden coordinated USAID efforts to respond to global crises and stabilization efforts – including responses in Haiti, Iraq, Somalia, South Sudan, Syria, the West Bank/Gaza, and Yemen.

Prior to his Senate confirmation, Harden was a Minister Counselor in the career Senior Foreign Service. He served 17 years overseas in the Middle East, Central Asia, and South Asia, including as Mission Director in the West Bank and Gaza, and Deputy Mission Director in Iraq. Harden also served for three years as Senior Advisor to President Obama’s Special Envoy for Middle East Peace. Prior to senior management, Harden was the Regional Legal Advisor in South Asia and Central Asia from 1999-2005.

Private Sector and non-profit experience
Harden is the Managing Director of the Georgetown Strategy Group, ​a consulting firm headquartered in Washington, D.C.

Harden was a Director on the Board of Kids4Peace, a global, nonprofit, 501(c)(3) international, interfaith youth organization dedicated to peacebuilding.

Awards and recognition
In May of 2019, President Trump awarded Harden the Presidential Award for Distinguished Service, the highest award in the Foreign Service, for “sustained extraordinary accomplishment in the conduct of the foreign policy.”

Personal life
Harden is married to Sharon Albright Harden, together they have three children.