The Mystery isolved!
The opening visible in the center of Retired Vice Admiral Robert Harward's neck is a medical stoma, a surgically created opening that allows him to breathe.
While Harward has not publicly disclosed the exact underlying medical condition that necessitated the procedure, this specific type of hole is the physical result of one of two standard surgical interventions.
During his broadcast appearances on Fox News and other major networks, Harward does not wear a tie or high-collared shirt to conceal the stoma. He speaks using an assistive voice technology or prosthesis, allowing him to continue sharing his expert geopolitical analysis on the Middle East.