Former Target Store Manager To Oversee Nation's Nuclear Security

[SandEagle]

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/02/06/nuclear-security_n_2630838.html
http://www.krem.com/news/local/Form...r-overseeing-nuclear-security--190062561.html
http://www.examiner.com/article/ste...ne-target-manager-to-head-of-nuclear-security

The NNSA had originally hired Asher as a security consultant before giving him this nice bump in responsibilities. This basically puts him in charge of the development and implementation of security programs at nuclear sites around the nation. He is now classified as the acting chief of defense nuclear security and associate administrator for defense nuclear security.

It might seem odd that a former Target manager is getting a promotion like this on a national scale, but the counterargument is that he was in charge of a lot of people while working at the store. Now he has a much bigger task, though, and the City of Spokane could use a "claim to fame" such as this to help its image. Steve Asher now has the chance to really make his former target co-workers proud as well.

Expect Less. Pay More.

 

[Theb]

"Asher was recruited into Target's executive ranks after serving 33 years in the US Air Force," he says. "There are very few people in the United States who have more experience."

Citing privacy concerns, Target declined to answer questions regarding Asher's term of employment, but it appears he came to Target after leaving Malmstrom Air Force Base in July 2008. From 2005 until 2008, as the commander of Malmstrom's 341st Security Forces Group, he was in charge of security for 200 intercontinental ballistic missiles in central Montana, according to Katrina M. Heikkinen, a spokeswoman for the base.

In November 2008, the Air Force Times reported that the 341st Missile Wing had failed its "nuclear surety inspection," which takes place every 18 months, after problems were found with maintenance, and also with the program that monitors access to the nukes (it passed its reinspection several months later.) "That's what really concerns us," says Peter Stockton, a senior investigator at POGO. "Malmstrom failed, and Asher can't really claim that he's not responsible for any of that stuff."

There's definitely an issue with him, but it has nothing to do with him managing a target (which can pay 6 figures). The headlines are ignoring the important part.