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MajGen Terry Scherling
Name: MajGen Terry Scherling
Agency/Branch:
- National Guard
- US Air Force
Position(s):
- Former Senior Executive, Operations Security, Transportation Security Administration, DHS
- Major General, Air National Guard serving as special assistant to the Chief National Guard Bureau
- Former first Deputy Director Antiterrorism/Homeland Defense, Operations Directorate, Joint Staff, Pentagon
Biography:
Major General Terry L. Scherling has a unique combination of more 32 years experience in the federal government, both military and civilian, and has owned a successful travel business for 22 years. Her wide range of leadership experience has given her broad knowledge and expertise in homeland security operations, plans and policy, logistics, strategic planning, human resources, intelligence and information sharing, training and exercises, plans and programs, safety, medical, information management, civil engineering, transportation, munitions, contracting, internal review, audit, financial management and congressional affairs.
Presently, she serves as Special Assistant to the Chief, National Guard Bureau and she recently retired from the Transportation Security Agency, Department of Homeland Security where she was a senior executive in the Office of Operations Security.
Prior to this, she served as the Director of the Joint Staff, National Guard Bureau, coordinating policy, plans, operations and communication between the National Guard of the States, the White House, the Office of the Secretary of Defense, the Joint Staff, Combatant Commanders and Interagency/Intergovernmental organizations. Concurrently, Gen Scherling served as the military executive for Reserve Forces Policy Board as a board member provided advice and recommendations to the Secretary of Defense and Congress on Reserve policy matters, to include spearheading development of a continuum of service and reduction of wartime lengths of deployment.
She pioneered and led the new Directorate of Antiterrorism/Homeland Security for the Joint Staff, and served as the primary advisor to the Chairman of the Joint Staff and the Secretary of Defense on sensitive issues relating to antiterrorism, combating terrorism, homeland defense, force protection and military support to civil authorities. In this capacity, she interfaced daily with the Departments of State and Homeland Defense, the White House and other federal agencies. She is recognized for providing military support for operations to include OPERATIONS NOBLE EAGLE, WINTER FREESE and JOINT TASK FORCE Katrina as well as for the international community and organizations outside the Department of Defense. Recognized for her insight into homeland defense operations, she was the primary Joint Staff spokesman during numerous Defense Department briefings and presentations to Congress.
When improvised explosive devices (IEDs) became the insurgents’ tactic of choice in Operation Iraqi Freedom, she pioneered the Joint IED Task Force and served as a charter member of the Joint IED Task Force for the Secretary of Defense. She led the expansion of vulnerability assessments to include assessments of critical infrastructure and developed use of biometrics technology into a forensic enterprise capability across the department of defense responsible for tracking, killing, or capturing 62 Tier 1 terrorists and insurgents and preventing over 1000 insurgents from being released, to increase security of deployed forces in Iraq and Afghanistan.
She served concurrently as the first Director, Joint Staff for the Connecticut National Guard (CTNG) and as a senior executive with Transportation Security Administration (TSA), Department of Homeland Security. At CTNG, she organized and led the first joint force headquarters for homeland defense. At TSA, she directed a cross functional team to link strategic initiatives through performance metrics to the annual multi-billion dollar budget.
After 9/11, she served as the architect and founder of Directorate of Homeland Security for the Air Force. She led the development of the first homeland security operational plan to prevent, protect and respond to attacks upon the homeland. Additionally, she served as the Homeland Security Task Force champion -- conceptualized and led a capabilities based risk assessment strategy which defined operational requirements and shaped the homeland security investment strategy for the Air Force.
She was the Chief Support Officer for the Air National Guard where she directed a staff of 1200 and led strategic planning, plans and programs for civil engineering, medical, services, personnel, information management and logistics for 88 flying units and 250 supported units, across 54 states and territories supporting global operations.
Previous work experience includes over 17 years of logistical experience. She served as the Property and Fiscal Officer for North Dakota, accountable for all federal property and funds and maintained acquisition oversight for major and minor construction. Prior to this assignment, she was Chief, Supply Division for the Air National Guard and led a reengineering effort which resulted in a 20% manpower reduction and multi-million dollar savings, annually. She was the 119th Fighter Wing Chief of Supply, Supply Systems Analyst and Administrative officer.
In the course of her career, General Scherling gained a reputation for bold and innovative thought. She was recognized for pioneering and leading new organizations while in turbulent, ambiguous environments. She is acknowledged as a visionary leader, compassionate, personable and as a team builder across government and the private sector.
Ms. Scherling was an owner of Midwest Travel, Inc., Fargo, North Dakota for 22 years. Ms. Scherling, has a bachelor of science degree from North Dakota State University; a masters degree in National Resource Strategy from the Industrial College of the Armed Forces, National Defense University and fellowship from Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
She served as the Campaign Director for the United Way, Fargo-Moorhead, and on the Boards of Directors for the United Way and North Dakota State University Alumni Association.
Areas of Expertise: