Editing Richard Myers

{{short description|American Air Force general (born 1942)}}
{{About|the U.S. Air Force general|other people with the same name|Richard Myers (disambiguation)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2023}}
{{Infobox military person
| name          = Richard Myers
| image         = Richard Myers official portrait 2.jpg
| caption       = Official portrait, 2002
| nickname      = 
| birth_date    = {{birth date and age|1942|3|1|df=yes}}
| birth_place   = [[Kansas City, Missouri]], United States
| death_date    = 
| death_place   = 
| placeofburial = 
| allegiance    = [[United States]]
| branch        = [[United States Air Force]]
| serviceyears  = 1965–2005
| rank          = [[General (United States)|General]]
| unit          = 
| commands      = [[Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff]]<br/>[[Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff]]<br/>[[North American Aerospace Defense Command]]<br/>[[United States Space Command]]<br/>[[Air Force Space Command]]<br/>[[Pacific Air Forces]]<br/>[[Fifth Air Force]]
| battles       = [[Vietnam War]]<br/>[[Iraq War]]
| awards        = [[Defense Distinguished Service Medal]] (4)<br/>{{nowrap|[[Air Force Distinguished Service Medal]] (2)}}<br/>[[Army Distinguished Service Medal]]<br/>[[Navy Distinguished Service Medal]]<br/>[[Coast Guard Distinguished Service Medal]]<br/>[[Legion of Merit]]<br/>[[Distinguished Flying Cross (United States)|Distinguished Flying Cross]] (2)<br/>[[Air Medal]] (19)<br/>[[Presidential Medal of Freedom]]
| relations     = 
| laterwork     = Board of directors, [[Northrop Grumman]]<br/>14th president, [[Kansas State University]]
}}
'''Richard Bowman Myers''' (born 1 March 1942) is a retired [[United States Air Force]] [[General (United States)|general]] who served as the 15th [[chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff]]. As chairman, Myers was the highest ranking uniformed officer of the United States military forces. He also served as the 14th president of [[Kansas State University]] from 2016 to 2022.

Myers became the chairman of the Joint Chiefs on 1 October 2001. In this capacity, he served as the principal military advisor to the [[President of the United States|president]], the [[Secretary of Defense of the United States|secretary of defense]], and the [[United States National Security Council|National Security Council]] during the earliest stages of the [[War on Terror]], including planning and execution of the [[2003 invasion of Iraq]]. On 30 September 2005, he retired and was succeeded by General [[Peter Pace]]. His Air Force career included operational command and leadership positions in a variety of Air Force and Joint assignments.

Myers began serving as the interim president of Kansas State University in late April 2016,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://kansasregents.org/about/news-releases/2016-news-releases/622-board-of-regents-announce-interim-president-at-kansas-state-university|title=Board of Regents Announce Interim President at Kansas State University|website=kansasregents.org|access-date=April 14, 2016}}</ref> and was announced as the permanent president on 15 November 2016.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.wibw.com/content/news/401299645.html |title=New K-State President Richard Myers says his "honeymoon is over" |date=November 15, 2016 |access-date=November 15, 2016 |archive-date=August 17, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180817161544/http://www.wibw.com/content/news/401299645.html |url-status=dead }}</ref> On 24 May 2021, Myers announced that we would be retiring from his duties as President of Kansas State University, and that his last day would be 11 February 2022.<ref>{{Cite web|title=President Myers announces retirement|url=https://www.k-state.edu/today/announcement/?id=75406|access-date=2022-02-25|website=www.k-state.edu|language=en-US}}</ref> He was succeeded by President [[Richard Linton (educator)|Richard Linton]], the former dean of the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences at North Carolina State University on 14 February 2022.<ref>{{Cite web|title=New K-State President Richard Linton to assume duties in mid-February|url=https://www.k-state.edu/media/newsreleases/2021-12/linton-new-president12321.html|access-date=2022-02-25|website=www.k-state.edu}}</ref>

==Early life==
[[File:General Richard B. Myers with Secretary of the Air Force F. Whitten Peters.jpg|left|thumb|222x222px|General Richard B. Myers during his tenure as [[Commander-in-Chief of the North American Aerospace Defense Command|Commander of the North American Aerospace Defense Command]] ([[North American Aerospace Defense Command|NORAD]]) with [[United States Secretary of the Air Force|Secretary of the Air Force]] [[F. Whitten Peters]] at [[Peterson Air Force Base|Peterson Air Force Base, Colorado]], on 12 October 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.<ref name="af.mil">{{cite web|url=https://www.af.mil/About-Us/Biographies/Display/Article/104623/richard-b-myers/ |title=General Richard B. Myers|access-date=August 9, 2019}}</ref> He was commissioned by Detachment 270 of the [[Air Force Reserve Officer Training Corps]] at KSU.<ref name=cere>Ceremony program, Air Force Reserve Officer Training Corps Distinguished Alumni Induction, Maxwell AFB, Alabama, July 26, 2011, page 4.</ref> He graduated from [[Auburn University at Montgomery]] with a [[Master of Business Administration]] in 1977.<ref name="af.mil"/> 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 Gulfstream V|C-37]], [[C-21 Learjet|C-21]], [[F-4 Phantom II]], [[F-15 Eagle]] and [[F-16 Fighting Falcon]], including 600 combat hours in the F-4.<ref name="af.mil"/> During his tenure as Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Myers often flew official aircraft such as the Gulfstream [[Gulfstream V|C-37A]] and [[Gulfstream G550|C-37B]] by himself during official trips.<ref name=":0" /> 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."<ref name=":0" />

==Commander and Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff==
[[File:US Navy 040909-N-2568S-003 The Secretary of the Navy Gordon England, and the Chairman, Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Richard Myers, joined by his wife Mary Jo Myers, pose next to a model of a San Antonio-class amphibious dock land.jpg|thumb|[[Gordon R. England]], Mary Jo Myers, and General Myers in 2004.|alt=|222x222px|left]]
[[File:President George W. Bush holds a press conference in the Rose Garden.jpg|thumb|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]].|222x222px]]
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]].<ref name="af.mil" /> 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]] in February 2000. He assumed his duties on 29 February 2000.<ref name=":0">{{Cite book|last=Myers|first=Richard Bowman|title=Eyes on the Horizon: Serving on the Front Lines of National Security|publisher=Threshold|date=March 17, 2009|isbn=978-1416560128}}</ref> 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.
[[File:Defense.gov News Photo 050314-F-0193C-023.jpg|thumb|General Myers during a visit to [[Camp Victory|Camp Victory, Iraq]].|alt=|222x222px|left]]
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|Goldwater–Nichols Act of 1986]].<ref name=":0" />

=== September 11 Attacks ===
On the [[September 11 attacks|morning of 11 September 2001]] Myers was on [[United States Capitol|Capitol Hill]] to meet Georgia Senator [[Max Cleland]] for his scheduled courtesy calls before his Senate confirmation hearings to be the next chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.<ref name=":0" /> While waiting for the senator, Myers watched a television news network in the outer office of Senator Cleland that a plane had just hit the [[One World Trade Center|North Tower of the World Trade Center]].<ref name=":0" /> A few minutes later Myers was informed by his military aide Captain [[Christopher T. Donahue|Chris Donahue]] about the hijacked plane that just hit the second tower of the [[World Trade Center (1973–2001)|World Trade Center]]. Later on General [[Ralph Eberhart]], the [[Commander-in-Chief of the North American Aerospace Defense Command]], managed to contact Myers and inform him about the recent hijacking situation. Myers then immediately left Capitol Hill to proceed back to [[The Pentagon]], where he was informed that this time another commercial airplane had just hit the western side of The Pentagon. During the crisis, Myers became the acting chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, since General [[Hugh Shelton]] was en route to Europe for a [[NATO]] Summit.<ref name=":0" /> Upon arriving at The Pentagon and after a rendezvous with Secretary of Defense [[Donald Rumsfeld]], Myers then conferred with Secretary Rumsfeld about the current situation and the next steps to be taken. Myers took command as the acting chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff for half of the day during the attacks on 11 September, until General Shelton arrived back in Washington after he aborted his flight to Europe at 5:40&nbsp;p.m. local time.<ref name=":0" />

==Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff==
[[File:Defense.gov News Photo 011001-D-2987S-004.jpg|thumb|222x222px|General Myers is sworn in as chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff by Department of Defense general counsel [[William J. Haynes II]] on 1 October 2001.]]

[[File:Defense.gov News Photo 040514-D-2987S-021.jpg|left|thumb|222x222px|General Myers with Deputy Secretary of Defense [[Paul Wolfowitz]] at [[Andrews Air Force Base]].]]

Myers was sworn in as the 15th [[chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff]] on 1 October 2001. He served as the principal military advisor to the [[President of the United States|president]], the [[Secretary of Defense of the United States|Secretary of Defense]], and the [[United States National Security Council|National Security Council]] during the earliest stages of the [[War on Terror]], including planning of the [[Operation Enduring Freedom|War in Afghanistan]] and planning and execution of the [[2003 invasion of Iraq]].<ref name=":1">{{Cite book|last=Perry|first=Mark|title=The Pentagon's Wars: The Military's Undeclared War Against America's Presidents|publisher=Basic Books|date=October 24, 2017|isbn=978-0465079711}}</ref><ref name=":2">{{Cite book|last=Woodward|first=Bob|title=State of Denial: Bush at War, Part III|publisher=Simon & Schuster|date=September 30, 2006|isbn=978-0743272230}}</ref><ref name=":0" /><ref name=":3">{{Cite web|last=of Staff|first=Joint Chiefs|date=September 30, 2005|title=15th Chairman of The Joint Chiefs of Staff General Richard Bowman Myers|url=https://www.jcs.mil/About/The-Joint-Staff/Chairman/General-Richard-Bowman-Myers/|access-date=June 19, 2020|website=www.jcs.mil}}</ref> A few days later, on 7 October 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.<ref name=":3" />

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 [[2004 Afghan presidential election|direct presidential elections on 9 October 2004]].<ref name=":3" />

===Operation Iraqi Freedom===
[[File:Defense.gov News Photo 050920-D-9880W-085.jpg|thumb|General Myers and Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld during a press briefing in The Pentagon.|alt=|222x222px]]During his tenure as chairman, Myers also oversaw the early stage of the invasion of Iraq. Together with CENTCOM commander General Tommy Franks, Myers coordinated the plan for the Iraqi invasion and the reconstruction of the country, and also established a combined joint task force in order to focus on post-conflict issues in Iraq.<ref name=":0" /> [[Operation Iraqi Freedom]] was initiated on 20 March 2003, which was preceded by an airstrike on [[As-Salam Palace|Saddam Hussein's Palace]] and followed by the [[Battle of Baghdad (2003)|Fall of Baghdad]] in April 2003. Operation Iraqi Freedom eventually led to the downfall of Saddam Hussein's 24-year regime and the [[Operation Red Dawn|captured of Hussein]] on 13 December 2003. Following Operation Iraqi Freedom, the [[Coalition Provisional Authority]] was established in Iraq and was succeeded by the [[Iraqi Interim Government]], which presided over [[January 2005 Iraqi parliamentary election|parliamentary elections in 2005]].<ref name=":1" /><ref name=":2" />

In order to gain support on both the War on Terror and the invasion of Iraq, Myers often travelled abroad in order to strengthen military relations with other allied nations, such as [[Mongolia]]. He was the first chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff to visit Mongolia. Myers met with [[President of Mongolia|Mongolian President]] [[Natsagiin Bagabandi]] at [[Ulaanbaatar]] on 15 January 2004. As a result, the United States gained the support of the Mongolian government and Mongolia also deployed troops in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom.<ref>{{Cite web|date=January 13, 2004|title=DoD News: Myers Thanks Mongolians for Iraqi Freedom Help|url=https://archive.defense.gov/news/newsarticle.aspx?id=27505|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924030256/http://archive.defense.gov/news/newsarticle.aspx?id=27505|url-status=dead|archive-date=24 September 2015|access-date=June 19, 2020}}</ref><ref name=":0" />

===Military transformation===
[[File:General Richard B. Myers Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff visited Haiti.jpg|left|thumb|222x222px|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 [[President of Haiti|Haitian President]] [[Jean-Bertrand Aristide]] [[2004 Haitian coup d'état|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.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Operation Secure Tomorrow|url=https://www.globalsecurity.org/military/ops/haiti04.htm|access-date=June 20, 2020|website=www.globalsecurity.org}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Marines Clean-up after Operation Secure Tomorrow|url=https://www.lejeune.marines.mil/News/Article/511338/marines-clean-up-after-operation-secure-tomorrow/|access-date=June 20, 2020|website=www.lejeune.marines.mil}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=February 29, 2004 |title=Haiti's President Forced Out; Marines Sent to Keep Order |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2004/02/29/international/americas/haitis-president-forced-out-marines-sent-to-keep.html |url-access=registration |access-date=June 20, 2020 |newspaper=The New York Times}}</ref>

Together with Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld, Myers conducted weekly press briefings at The Pentagon on the War on Terror.<ref name=":0" />[[File:Defense.gov News Photo 040510-F-6655M-100.jpg|thumb|222x222px|Myers with President George W. Bush and Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld and General [[Peter Pace]] during a Press Conference at [[The Pentagon]] on 10 May 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.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":3" /> 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.<ref name=":3" /> 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."<ref name=":3" /> 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.<ref name=":3" />

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.<ref name=":3" /> Myers retired from active duty on 30 September 2005, after more than forty years of active service. His retirement ceremony was held at [[Joint Base Myer–Henderson Hall|Fort Myer, Virginia]], with President George W. Bush delivering the retirement remarks.<ref name=":0" />

==Awards and decorations==
{|
|-
|[[File:USAF Command Pilot Wings.svg|160px]]
|[[United States Aviator Badge|Command Pilot Badge]]
|-
|[[File:WepsDirector.jpg|80px]]<span style="position:relative; top: 8px; left: -80px; display: inline-block; width: 0;">[[File:USAF - Occupational Badge - Space and Missile.svg|80px]]</span>
|Master Space and Missile Badge
|-
|[[File:Joint Chiefs of Staff seal.svg|90px]]
|[[Office of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Identification Badge]]
|}
{|
|{{ribbon devices|number=3|type=oak|ribbon=Defense Distinguished Service ribbon.svg|width=80}}
|[[Defense Distinguished Service Medal]] with three bronze [[oak leaf cluster]]s
|-
|{{ribbon devices|number=1|type=oak|ribbon=Air Force Distinguished Service ribbon.svg|width=80}}
|[[Air Force Distinguished Service Medal]] with oak leaf cluster
|-
|{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=oak|ribbon=Distinguished Service Medal ribbon.svg|width=80}}
|[[Distinguished Service Medal (U.S. Army)|Army Distinguished Service Medal]]
|-
|{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=award-star|ribbon=Navy Distinguished Service ribbon.svg|width=80}}
|[[Navy Distinguished Service Medal]]
|-
|{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=award-star|ribbon=Coast Guard Distinguished Service ribbon.svg|width=80}}
|[[Coast Guard Distinguished Service Medal]]
|-
|{{ribbon devices|number=0|type=oak|ribbon=Legion of Merit ribbon.svg|width=80}}
|[[Legion of Merit]]
|-
|{{ribbon devices|number=1|type=oak|ribbon=Distinguished Flying Cross ribbon.svg|width=80}}
|[[Distinguished Flying Cross (United States)|Distinguished Flying Cross]] with oak leaf cluster
|-
|{{ribbon devices|number=3|type=oak|ribbon=Meritorious Service ribbon.svg|width=80}}
|[[Meritorious Service Medal (United States)|Meritorious Service Medal]] with three oak leaf clusters
|-
|{{ribbon devices|number=16|type=oak|ribbon=Air Medal ribbon.svg|width=80}}
|[[Air Medal]] (19 awards in total)
|-
|{{ribbon devices|number=1|type=oak|ribbon=Air Medal ribbon.svg|width=80}}
|Air Medal
|-
|{{ribbon devices|number=0|type=oak|ribbon=Air Force Commendation Medal ribbon.svg|width=80}}
|[[Air Force Commendation Medal]]
|-
|{{ribbon devices|number=1|type=oak|ribbon=Joint Meritorious Unit Award-3d.svg|width=80}}
|[[Joint Meritorious Unit Award]] with oak leaf cluster
|-
|{{ribbon devices|number=3|type=oak|other_device=v|ribbon=Outstanding Unit ribbon.svg|width=80}}
|[[Outstanding Unit Award]] with [[Valor device|Valor V]] and three oak leaf clusters
|-
|{{ribbon devices|number=1|type=oak|ribbon=Organizational Excellence ribbon.svg|width=80}}
|[[Organizational Excellence Award]] with oak leaf cluster
|-
|{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=award-star|ribbon=Presidential Medal of Freedom (ribbon).svg|width=80}}
|[[Presidential Medal of Freedom]]
|-
|{{ribbon devices|number=0|type=oak|ribbon=Combat Readiness Medal ribbon.svg|width=80}}
|[[Combat Readiness Medal]]
|-
|{{ribbon devices|number=2|type=service-star|ribbon=National Defense Service Medal ribbon.svg|width=80}}
|[[National Defense Service Medal]] with two bronze [[service star]]s
|-
|{{ribbon devices|number=0|type=service-star|ribbon=Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal ribbon.svg|width=80}}
|[[Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal]]
|-
|{{ribbon devices|number=3|type=service-star|ribbon=Vietnam Service Medal ribbon.svg|width=80}}
|[[Vietnam Service Medal]] with three [[campaign star]]s
|-
|{{ribbon devices|number=0|type=service-star|ribbon=Humanitarian Service ribbon.svg|width=80}}
|[[Humanitarian Service Medal]]
|-
|{{ribbon devices|number=0|type=oak|ribbon=Air Force Overseas Short Tour Service Ribbon.svg|width=80}}
|[[Overseas Service Ribbon|Air Force Overseas Short Tour Service Ribbon]]
|-
|{{ribbon devices|number=3|type=oak|ribbon=U.S. Air Force Overseas Long Tour Service Ribbon.svg|width=80}}
|[[Overseas Service Ribbon|Air Force Overseas Long Tour Service Ribbon]] with three oak leaf clusters
|-
|{{ribbon devices|number=8|type=oak|ribbon=Air Force Longevity Service ribbon.svg|width=80}}
|[[Air Force Longevity Service Award]] (10 awards total)
|-
|{{ribbon devices|number=0|type=oak|ribbon=Air Force Longevity Service ribbon.svg|width=80}}
|[[Air Force Longevity Service Award]]
|-
|{{ribbon devices|number=0|type=oak|ribbon=USAF Marksmanship ribbon.svg|width=80}}
|[[Marksmanship Ribbon|Small Arms Expert Marksmanship Ribbon]]
|-
|{{ribbon devices|number=0|type=oak|ribbon=Air Force Training Ribbon.svg|width=80}}
|[[Air Force Training Ribbon]]
|-
| [[File:CAN Order of Military Merit Commander ribbon.svg|80px]]
|Commander of the [[Order of Military Merit (Canada)|Order of Military Merit]] (Canada)
|-
|[[File:CAN Meritorious Service Cross (military division) ribbon.svg|80px]]
|[[Meritorious Service Cross]], military version ([[Canada]])
|-
|{{ribbon devices|number=0|type=oak|ribbon=Legion Honneur Commandeur ribbon.svg|width=80}}
|[[Légion d'honneur]] ([[France]], degree of Commander)
|-
|[[File:SVK Commemorative Medal Min-of-Def 1st BAR.svg|80px]]
|Commemorative Medal of the Minister of Defense of the [[Slovak Republic]] First Class
|-
|[[File:Darjah Utama Bakti Cemerlang (Tentera) ribbon.png|80px]]
|[[Darjah Utama Bakti Cemerlang (Tentera)]] Singapore Distinguished Service Order (Military)
|-
|[[File:Ribbon Bar of the Grand Cross of The Order of Military Merit José María Córdova.svg|80px]]
|Grand Cross of the [[Order of Military Merit José María Córdova]] (Colombia)
|-
|[[File:EST Order of the Cross of the Eagle 1st Class BAR.png|80px]]
|Estonian [[Order of the Cross of the Eagle]] First Class
|-
|[[File:JPN Kyokujitsu-sho Paulownia BAR.svg|80px]]
|[[Order of the Paulownia Flowers]], Grand Cordon (Japan)
|-
|[[File:JPN Zuiho-sho (WW2) 1Class BAR.svg|80px]]
|[[Order of the Sacred Treasure]], Grand Cordon (Japan)
|-
|[[File:Tong-il Security Medel Ribbon.svg|80px]]
|[[Order of National Security Merit]] ([[South-Korea]]) [[Tong-il Medal]]
|-
|[[File:Ribbon Bar of the Member of The National Order of Merit Antonio Nariño.svg|80px]]
|Companion of the [[Order of Military Merit Antonio Nariño]] (Colombia)
|-
|[[File:ROU Order of the Star of Romania 1999-war-ribbon GOfficer BAR.svg|80px]]
|[[Order of the Star of Romania]] (Romanian: Steaua României), Grand Officer (Military)
|-
|[[File:Grande ufficiale BAR.svg|80px]]
|[[Military Order of Italy]], Grand Officer
|-
|[[File:BUL Order Stara planina ribbon.svg|80px]]
|Order of the Balkan Mountains, without ribbon, 2nd Class (Bulgaria)
|-
|[[File:Vietnam Gallantry Cross, with palm.svg|80px]]
|[[Gallantry Cross (Vietnam)]] with palm
|-
|{{ribbon devices|number=0|type=oak|ribbon=Vietnam gallantry cross unit award-3d.svg|width=80}}
|[[Vietnam Gallantry Cross Unit Citation]]
|-
|[[File:VNCivilActionsRibbon-2.svg|80px]]
|[[Vietnam Civil Actions Medal|Vietnam Civil Actions Unit Citation]]
|-
|{{ribbon devices|number=0|type=oak|ribbon=Vietnam Campaign Medal ribbon with 60- clasp.svg|width=80}}
|[[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).

===Other Recognition===

In 2001, General Myers received the Golden Plate Award of the [[Academy of Achievement|American Academy of Achievement]] presented by Awards Council member and Supreme Allied Commander Europe [[Joseph Ralston|General Joseph W. Ralston, USAF]].<ref>{{cite web|title= Golden Plate Awardees of the American Academy of Achievement |website=www.achievement.org|publisher=[[American Academy of Achievement]]|url= https://achievement.org/our-history/golden-plate-awards/#public-service}}</ref>

==Flight information==
* Rating: command pilot
* Flight hours: more than 4,100 <ref name="af.mil" />
* Aircraft flown: F-4, F-16, F-15, T-33, C-21 and C-37

==Effective dates of promotion==
{| class="wikitable"
!Insignia
!Rank
!Date
|-
|[[File:US Air Force O1 shoulderboard rotated.svg|147x147px]]
|[[Second Lieutenant#United States|Second Lieutenant]]
|3 February 1965 <ref name="af.mil" />
|-
|[[File:US Air Force O2 shoulderboard rotated.svg|147x147px]]
|[[First Lieutenant#United States|First Lieutenant]]
|5 December 1966 <ref name="af.mil" />
|-
|[[File:US Air Force O3 shoulderboard rotated.svg|147x147px]]
|[[Captain (U.S. Marine Corps)|Captain]]
|13 June 1968 <ref name="af.mil" />
|-
|[[File:US Air Force O4 shoulderboard rotated.svg|147x147px]]
|[[Major (United States)|Major]]
|1 September 1976 <ref name="af.mil" />
|-
|[[File:US Air Force O5 shoulderboard rotated.svg|147x147px]]
|[[Lieutenant colonel]]
|1 December 1979 <ref name="af.mil" />
|-
|[[File:US Air Force O6 shoulderboard rotated.svg|147x147px]]
|[[Colonel (United States)|Colonel]]
|1 September 1984 <ref name="af.mil" />
|-
|[[File:US Air Force O7 shoulderboard rotated.svg|147x147px]]
|[[Brigadier general (United States)|Brigadier general]]
|1 April 1990 <ref name="af.mil" />
|-
|[[File:US Air Force O8 shoulderboard rotated.svg|147x147px]]
|[[Major general (United States)|Major general]]
|1 September 1992 <ref name="af.mil" />
|-
|[[File:US Air Force O9 shoulderboard rotated.svg|147x147px]]
|[[Lieutenant general (United States)|Lieutenant General]]
|12 November 1993 <ref name="af.mil" />
|-
|[[File:US Air Force O10 shoulderboard rotated.svg|147x147px]]
|[[General (United States)|General]]
|1 September 1997 <ref name="af.mil" />
|}

==Retirement and post-retirement==
[[File:MyersRichard PresidentialMedalofFreedom.jpg|left|thumb|Myers receiving the [[Presidential Medal of Freedom]].]]
On 27 September 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 9 November 2005, Myers received the [[Presidential Medal of Freedom]]. His citation reads:
{{blockquote|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.<ref>{{cite press release |url=https://georgewbush-whitehouse.archives.gov/news/releases/2005/11/20051109-10.html
|publisher=Office of the Press Secretary, White House|title=Citations for Recipients of the 2005 Presidential Medal of Freedom |date=November 9, 2005}}</ref>}}
[[File:Defense.gov photo essay 070424-F-0193C-012.jpg|left|thumb|222x222px|Myers and Donald Rumsfeld during the unveiling ceremony of Myers' portrait at [[The Pentagon]] on 24 April 2007.]]
[[File:Richard Myers official photo.jpg|thumb|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 13 September 2006, he also joined the board of directors of [[United Technologies Corporation]]. He also serves on the boards of [[Aon Corporation]], [[Deere & Company|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 (Washington, D.C.)|National Defense University]]. He also has advised the Defense Health Board and served on the Army War College Board of Visitors.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://bellum.stanfordreview.org/?p=2679 |title=Bellum » Special Guest: Gen. Richard Myers on NATO and the Defense Budget |access-date=February 2, 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110316002622/http://bellum.stanfordreview.org/?p=2679 |archive-date=March 16, 2011}}</ref>

On 26 July 2011, Myers was inducted into the [[Air Force Reserve Officer Training Corps]] Distinguished Alumni in a ceremony at [[Maxwell Air Force Base|Maxwell AFB]], Alabama, officiated by Lieutenant General Allen G. Peck, Commander, [[Air University (United States Air Force)|Air University]].<ref name=cere/>

On 14 April 2016, Myers was selected as the interim president of Kansas State University, which he began on 20 April.<ref>{{cite news|last=Hanna |first=John |url=http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2016/apr/14/ex-joint-chiefs-chairman-named-interim-kansas-stat/ |title=Ex-joint chiefs chairman named interim Kansas State leader |newspaper=Washington Times |date=April 14, 2016 |access-date=April 22, 2016}}</ref> On 15 November 2016, the Board of Regents removed his interim title and announced Myers would become the university's 14th president.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://cjonline.com/news/2016-11-15/richard-myers-retired-air-force-general-selected-14th-president-kansas-state |title=Richard Myers, retired Air Force general, selected as 14th president of Kansas State University |date=November 15, 2016 |access-date=November 15, 2016}}</ref>

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. [https://medisend.org/ Medisend College of Biomedical Engineering Technology].

On May 24, 2021, Myers announced he would retire from his role as president of Kansas State University as of 11 February 2022.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2021-05-24|title=Kansas State University President Richard Myers announces retirement|url=https://www.ksn.com/news/local/kansas-state-university-president-richard-myers-announces-retirement/|access-date=2021-05-24|website=KSN-TV|language=en-US}}</ref> He released the following statement as part of his announced retirement, "Mary Jo and I truly loved our time at K-State and working with students, faculty and staff. Being president of my alma mater was one of the most fulfilling jobs I've ever had. It was an honor to help move K-State forward on many fronts. I'm grateful for the opportunity to work with the many talented and dedicated people who comprise the K-State family."

==Personal life==
Myers and his wife, the former Mary Jo Rupp, have three children: two daughters and a son. His son´s name is Richard Bowman Myers.

==His publications==
* Myers, Richard B., and Malcolm McConnell. ''Eyes on the Horizon: Serving on the Front Lines of National Security''. New York: Threshold, 2009. {{ISBN|9781416560128}}

==Quotes==
* "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".<ref>{{cite book |title=[[Torture Team]] |last=Sands |first=Philippe |author-link=Philippe Sands |year=2008 |publisher=Penguin Books |location=London |isbn=978-0-14-103132-3 |page=40 }}</ref>

== Gallery ==
<gallery>
File:Joint Chiefs of Staff (December 2001).jpg|[[Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff]] General Richard B. Myers with the other members of [[Joint Chiefs of Staff|The Joint Chiefs of Staff]] in the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gold Room, also known as "The Tank" at [[The Pentagon]] on 14 December 2001.
File:Defense.gov News Photo 030814-D-9880W-093.jpg|General Myers delivers his opening remarks during a town hall meeting at [[The Pentagon]] auditorium on 14 August 2003.
File:Natsagiin Bagabandi with Air Force Gen. Richard Myers.jpg|[[Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff]] General Richard B. Myers with [[President of Mongolia|Mongolian President]] [[Natsagiin Bagabandi|Natsagyiyn Bagabandi]] at [[Government Palace (Mongolia)|Monoglian Government Palace]] during a visit to [[Ulaanbaatar|Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia]] on 13 January 2004.
File:Defense.gov News Photo 050317-F-0193C-002.jpg|General Myers greeted U.S. service members deployed to [[Saudi Arabia]] on 17 March 2005. 
</gallery>

==Notes==
{{US Air Force|article=General Richard Myers Biography|url=http://www.af.mil/information/bios/bio.asp?bioID=6123}}
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{Commons category|Richard Myers}}
* [http://www.k-state.edu/president/profile/ Kansas State University profile]
* {{C-SPAN|81428}}
* [http://www.pritzkermilitary.org/whats_on/pritzker-military-presents/gen-richard-b-meyers-usaf-ret-eyes-horizon/ Myers on ''Eyes on the Horizon: Serving on the Front Lines of National Security''] at the [[Pritzker Military Museum & Library]] on July 15, 2010
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20081220094138/http://media.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/nation/pdf/12112008_detaineeabuse.pdf Senate Armed Services Committee Inquiry into the Treatment of Cetainees I'm U.S. Custody], [[United States Senate Committee on Armed Services]], 2008
* [https://medisend.org/general-richard-b-myers-veterans-program/ General Richard B. Myers Veterans Biomedical Equipment Technology Program]
* [https://medisend.org/ Medisend College of Biomedical Engineering Technology]

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{{S-end}}

{{VCJCS}}
{{JCS}}
{{Kansas State University presidents}}
{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Myers, Richard}}
[[Category:1942 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Military personnel from Kansas City, Missouri]]
[[Category:Joint Chiefs of Staff]]
[[Category:Chairmen of the Joint Chiefs of Staff]]
[[Category:Vice chairmen of the Joint Chiefs of Staff]]
[[Category:United States Air Force generals]]
[[Category:United States Air Force personnel of the Vietnam War]]
[[Category:Directors of Northrop Grumman]]
[[Category:People from Johnson County, Kansas]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Distinguished Service Medal (US Army)]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Legion of Merit]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Distinguished Flying Cross (United States)]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Air Medal]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Meritorious Service Decoration]]
[[Category:Presidential Medal of Freedom recipients]]
[[Category:Kansas State University alumni]]
[[Category:Educators from Kansas]]
[[Category:Presidents of Kansas State University]]
[[Category:Auburn University at Montgomery alumni]]
[[Category:Harvard Kennedy School alumni]]
[[Category:United States National Security Council staffers]]
[[Category:United States Army War College alumni]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Darjah Utama Bakti Cemerlang (Tentera)]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Military Order of the Cross of the Eagle, Class I]]
[[Category:Commanders of the Order of Military Merit (Canada)]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Humanitarian Service Medal]]
[[Category:Sigma Alpha Epsilon members]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Order of Military Merit José María Córdova]]