Richard Myers

General Richard B. Myers during his tenure as Commander of the North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) with Secretary of the Air Force F. Whitten Peters at Peterson Air Force Base, Colorado on October 12th, 1998.

Myers was born in Kansas City, Missouri. His father owned a hardware store and his mother was a homemaker. He graduated from Shawnee Mission North High School in 1960. He graduated from Kansas State University (KSU) with a Bachelor of Science in mechanical engineering in 1965 where he was a member of Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity.[3] He was commissioned by Detachment 270 of the Air Force Reserve Officer Training Corps at KSU.[4] He graduated from Auburn University at Montgomery with a Master of Business Administration in 1977.[3] Myers has attended the Air Command and Staff College at Maxwell Air Force Base, Alabama; the U.S. Army War College at Carlisle Barracks, Pennsylvania; and the Program for Senior Executives in National and International Security at Harvard University's John F. Kennedy School of Government.

Myers entered the United States Air Force in 1965 through the Reserve Officer Training Corps program. He received pilot training from 1965 to 1966 at Vance Air Force Base, Oklahoma. Myers is a command pilot with more than 4,100 flying hours in the T-33 Shooting Star, C-37, C-21, F-4 Phantom II, F-15 Eagle and F-16 Fighting Falcon, including 600 combat hours in the F-4.[3] During his tenure as Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Myers often flew official aircraft such as the Gulfstream C-37A and C-37B by himself during official trips.[5] According to his 2009 autobiography (Eyes on The Horizon: Serving on the Front Lines of National Security), "one of the pleasures he had as both Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff was to be able to sometimes fly on his required travels and stay pilot-qualified."[5]

Gordon R. England, Mary Jo Myers, and General Myers in 2004.

General Myers with Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld, President George W. Bush and Presidential Envoy to Iraq Ambassador Paul Bremer during a press conference in the White House.

From November 1993 to June 1996, Myers was Commander of United States Forces Japan and Fifth Air Force at Yokota Air Base, Japan and From July 1996 to July 1997 Myers served as Assistant to the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff at the Pentagon. Myers received his fourth-star in 1997 when he was appointed as commander in chief of Pacific Air Forces.[3] He commanded the Pacific Air Forces at Hickam Air Force Base, Hawaii, from July 1997 to July 1998. From August 1998 to February 2000, Myers was commander in chief of the North American Aerospace Defense Command and United States Space Command; Commander of the Air Force Space Command; and Department of Defense manager of the space transportation system contingency support at Peterson Air Force Base, Colorado. As commander, Myers was responsible for defending America through space and intercontinental ballistic missile operations.

Following the appointment of General Joseph Ralston as Supreme Allied Commander Europe (SACEUR), Myers was appointed by President Bill Clinton to succeed Ralston as Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff on February 2000. He assumed his duties on February 29, 2000.[5] As Vice Chairman, Myers served as the Chairman of the Joint Requirements Oversight Council, Vice Chairman of the Defense Acquisition Board, and as a member of the National Security Council Deputies Committee and the Nuclear Weapons Council. In addition, he acted for the Chairman in all aspects of the Planning, Programming and Budgeting System including participation in the Defense Resources Board.

General Myers during a visit to Camp Victory, Iraq.

In August 2001, a year after assuming the role of Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, President George W. Bush appointed Myers to be the next Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. Myers was the first Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff to be appointed Chairman, since the role was established in 1987 after the enactment of Goldwater–Nichols Act of 1986.[5]

General Myers with Deputy Secretary of Defense Paul Wolfowitz at Andrews Air Force Base.

Myers was sworn in as 15th Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff on October 1, 2001. He served as the principal military advisor to the President, the Secretary of Defense, and the National Security Council during the earliest stages of the War on Terror, including planning of the War in Afghanistan and planning and execution of the 2003 invasion of Iraq.[6][7][5][8] A few days later, on October 7, 2001, Operation Enduring Freedom was initiated. Myers and General Tommy Franks, the commander of United States Central Command (CENTCOM), coordinated the early stage of Operation Enduring Freedom. Within three months, several radical terrorist groups had been toppled.[8]

Myers also supported the involvement of NATO and allied coalition forces during the War on Terror. As a result of Operation Enduring Freedom, the political regime in Afghanistan was toppled and a new constitution was ratified in January 2004, which provided for direct presidential elections on October 9, 2004.[8]

General Myers and Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld during a press briefing in The Pentagon.

Military transformation

Myers with Brigadier General Ronald S. Coleman during a visit to Port-au-Prince to inspect U.S. troops deployed as part of peacekeeping operations in Haiti.

In February 2004 Haitian President Jean-Bertrand Aristide was overthrown in a coup d'état, leading to conflict within the country. The United States deployed Marines to Haiti as part of the multinational Operation Secure Tomorrow from February to July 2004. On March 13, Myers visited the United States troops deployed to Haiti.[10][11][12]

Together with Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld, Myers conducted weekly press briefings at The Pentagon on the War on Terror.[5]

Myers with President George W. Bush, Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld and General Peter Pace at press conference at The Pentagon on May 10, 2004.

One of Myers' achievements as Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff was his pursuit of the transformation of the United States military. Myers orchestrated substantive changes to the nation's Unified Combatant Command's plan following the September 11 attacks, leading to the establishment of United States Northern Command (USNORTHCOM) as the new Unified Combatant Command to consolidate and coordinate domestic defense.[5][8] It was also to support local, state and federal authorities in order to assist the newly created Department of Homeland Security, especially in responding to national emergencies. Following the establishment of USNORTHCOM, the North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) was also merged into USNORTHCOM and the United States Space Command was merged in to the United States Strategic Command (USSTRATCOM) in order to consolidate and strengthen the nation’s nuclear deterrent and space missions.[8] Like his predecessors, Myers also continued to promote a joint culture among the nation’s military services in order to avoid interservice rivalry.

In order to emphasize the War on Terror, Myers created what was known as "National Military Strategic Plan for the War on Terrorism 2002-2005."[8] The Strategic Plan provided a new guidance to the Joint Chiefs of Staff, regional commanders and Unified Combatant Command commanders for a multi-pronged strategy that aimed at targeting global terrorist networks.[8]

Myers' tenure as Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff ended in September 2005 and he was succeeded by General Peter Pace, who had served as Myers' Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs Staff.[8] Myers retired from active duty on September 30, 2005 after more than forty years of active service. His retirement ceremony was held at Fort Myer, Virginia, with President George W. Bush delivering the retirement remarks.[5]

	Command Pilot Badge
	Master Space and Missile Badge
	Office of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Identification Badge

	Defense Distinguished Service Medal with three bronze oak leaf clusters
	Air Force Distinguished Service Medal with oak leaf cluster
	Army Distinguished Service Medal
	Navy Distinguished Service Medal
	Coast Guard Distinguished Service Medal
	Legion of Merit
	Distinguished Flying Cross with oak leaf cluster
	Meritorious Service Medal with three oak leaf clusters
	Air Medal (19 awards in total)
	Air Medal
	Air Force Commendation Medal
	Joint Meritorious Unit Award with oak leaf cluster
	Outstanding Unit Award with Valor V and three oak leaf clusters
	Organizational Excellence Award with oak leaf cluster
	Presidential Medal of Freedom
	Combat Readiness Medal
	National Defense Service Medal with two bronze service stars
	Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal
	Vietnam Service Medal with three campaign stars
	Humanitarian Service Medal
	Air Force Overseas Short Tour Service Ribbon
	Air Force Overseas Long Tour Service Ribbon with three oak leaf clusters
	Air Force Longevity Service Award (10 awards total)
	Air Force Longevity Service Award
	Small Arms Expert Marksmanship Ribbon
	Air Force Training Ribbon
	Commander of the Order of Military Merit (Canada)
	Meritorious Service Cross, military version (Canada)
	Légion d'honneur (France, degree of Commander)
	Commemorative Medal of the Minister of Defense of the Slovak Republic First Class
	Darjah Utama Bakti Cemerlang (Tentera) Singapore Distinguished Service Order (Military)
	Grand Cross of the Order of Military Merit José María Córdova (Colombia)
	Estonian Order of the Cross of the Eagle First Class
	Order of the Paulownia Flowers, Grand Cordon (Japan)
	Order of the Sacred Treasure, Grand Cordon (Japan)
	Order of National Security Merit (South-Korea) Tong-il Medal
	Companion of the Order of Military Merit Antonio Nariño (Colombia)
	Order of the Star of Romania (Romanian: Steaua României), Grand Officer (Military)
	Military Order of Italy, Grand Officer
	Order of the Balkan Mountains, without ribbon, 2nd Class (Bulgaria)
	Gallantry Cross (Vietnam) with palm
	Vietnam Gallantry Cross Unit Citation
	Vietnam Civil Actions Unit Citation
	Vietnam Campaign Medal

Since 1999, General Myers is an Air Force Gray Eagle. He also received the Badge of the Commander of the Military Forces (Paraguay).

• Rating: command pilot
• Flight hours: more than 4,100 [3]
• Aircraft flown: F-4, F-16, F-15, T-33, C-21 and C-37

Myers receiving the Presidential Medal of Freedom.

On September 27, 2005, only three days before leaving his post as Chairman, Myers said of the Iraq War that, "the outcome and consequences of defeat are greater than World War II." His rise to and stint as Chairman are chronicled in Washington Post reporter Bob Woodward's book, State of Denial, as well as his own book Eyes on The Horizon: Serving on the Front Lines of National Security.

On November 9, 2005, Myers received the Presidential Medal of Freedom. His citation reads:

For four decades, General Richard Myers has served our Nation with honor and distinction. He flew some 600 combat hours in the Vietnam War. He later served as Commander in Chief of North American Aerospace Defense Command and U.S. Space Command. As Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, General Myers played a central role in our Nation's defense while devoting himself to the well-being of the men and women who wear the uniform of the United States Armed Forces. The United States honors General Richard Myers for his dedication to duty and country and for his contributions to the freedom and security of our Nation.[13]

Myers and Donald Rumsfeld during the unveiling ceremony of Myers' portrait at The Pentagon on April 24, 2007.

Myers' official portrait as President of Kansas State University, 2014

In 2006, Myers accepted a part-time appointment as a Foundation Professor of Military History at Kansas State University. That same year, he was also elected to the Board of Directors of Northrop Grumman Corporation, the world's third largest defense contractor. On September 13, 2006, he also joined the board of directors of United Technologies Corporation. He also serves on the boards of Aon Corporation, John Deere, the United Service Organizations and holds the Colin L. Powell Chair for National Security, Leadership, Character and Ethics at the National Defense University. He also has advised the Defense Health Board and served on the Army War College Board of Visitors.[14]

On July 26, 2011, Myers was inducted into the Air Force Reserve Officer Training Corps Distinguished Alumni in a ceremony at Maxwell AFB, Alabama, officiated by Lieutenant General Allen G. Peck, Commander, Air University.[4]

On April 14, 2016, Myers was selected as the interim president of Kansas State University, which he began on April 20.[15] On November 15, 2016, the Board of Regents removed his interim title and announced Myers would become the university's 14th president.[16]

Myers currently serves as Chairman of the Board of Trustees of Medisend College of Biomedical Engineering Technology and the General Richard B. Myers Veterans Program. Medisend College of Biomedical Engineering Technology.

Myers and his wife, the former Mary Jo Rupp, have three children: two daughters and a son.

• Myers, Richard B., and Malcolm McConnell. Eyes on the Horizon: Serving on the Front Lines of National Security. New York: Threshold, 2009. ISBN 9781416560128

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  Chairman of The Joint Chiefs of Staff General Richard B. Myers during a visit to Tbilisi, Georgia November 23, 2002.
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  General Myers with Mongolian President Natsagiin Bagabandi at Ulaanbaatar Government Palace during a visit to Ulaanbaatar, Monoglia January 15, 2004.
• 
  General Myers during The Senate Armed Services Committee hearing at The Capitol Hill in 2005.
• 
  General Myers talks with U.S. service members at the Eskan Village Compound in Saudi Arabia.

• "We train our people to obey the Geneva Conventions, it's not even a matter of whether it is reciprocated – it's a matter of who we are".[17]
• "Medisend College and The General Richard B. Myers Veterans Program are dedicated to assisting veterans in their pursuit of higher education. We appreciate the sacrifice you have made for our country and are committed to providing you with high quality education, viable job opportunities and the potential for a lifetime of financial security. We are committed to your success and will support you every step of the way."

 This article incorporates public domain material from the United States Air Force document: "General Richard Myers Biography".

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Richard Myers.

• Kansas State University profile
• Appearances on C-SPAN
• Myers on Eyes on the Horizon: Serving on the Front Lines of National Security at the Pritzker Military Museum & Library on July 15, 2010
• Senate Armed Services Committee Inquiry into the Treatment of Cetainees I'm U.S. Custody, United States Senate Committee on Armed Services, 2008
• General Richard B. Myers Veterans Biomedical Equipment Technology Program
• Medisend College of Biomedical Engineering Technology