Richard Myers
Richard Bowman Myers (born 1 March 1942) is a retired United States Air Force general who served as the 15th chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.In this capacity, 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 and execution of the 2003 invasion of Iraq.[3] He was succeeded by President Richard Linton, the former dean of the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences at North Carolina State University on 14 February 2022.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.In addition, he acted for the chairman in all aspects of the Planning, Programming and Budgeting System including participation in the Defense Resources Board.[7] A few minutes later Myers was informed by his military aide Captain Chris Donahue about the hijacked plane that just hit the second tower of the 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.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.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 p.m. local time.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 9 October 2004.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.[7][10] 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.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.[20] 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.
Richard Myers (disambiguation)Kansas City, MissouriUnited States Air ForceGeneralChairman of the Joint Chiefs of StaffVice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of StaffNorth American Aerospace Defense CommandUnited States Space CommandAir Force Space CommandPacific Air ForcesFifth Air ForceVietnam WarIraq WarDefense Distinguished Service MedalAir Force Distinguished Service MedalArmy Distinguished Service MedalNavy Distinguished Service MedalCoast Guard Distinguished Service MedalLegion of MeritDistinguished Flying CrossAir MedalPresidential Medal of FreedomNorthrop GrummanKansas State Universitypresidentsecretary of defenseNational Security CouncilWar on Terror2003 invasion of IraqPeter PaceRichard LintonCommander of the North American Aerospace Defense CommandSecretary of the Air ForceF. Whitten PetersPeterson Air Force Base, ColoradoShawnee Mission North High SchoolBachelor of Sciencemechanical engineeringSigma Alpha EpsilonAir Force Reserve Officer Training CorpsAuburn University at MontgomeryMaster of Business AdministrationAir Command and Staff CollegeMaxwell Air Force BaseAlabamaU.S. Army War CollegeCarlisle BarracksPennsylvaniaHarvard UniversityJohn F. Kennedy School of GovernmentReserve Officer Training CorpsVance Air Force BaseOklahomaT-33 Shooting StarF-4 Phantom IIF-15 EagleF-16 Fighting FalconGordon R. EnglandDonald RumsfeldGeorge W. BushPaul BremerWhite HouseUnited States Forces JapanYokota Air Basethe PentagonHickam Air Force BaseHawaiiPeterson Air Force BaseColoradoJoseph RalstonSupreme Allied Commander EuropeBill ClintonJoint Requirements Oversight CouncilNational Security Council Deputies CommitteeCamp Victory, IraqGoldwater–Nichols Act of 1986morning of 11 September 2001Capitol HillMax ClelandNorth Tower of the World Trade CenterChris DonahueWorld Trade CenterRalph EberhartCommander-in-Chief of the North American Aerospace Defense CommandHugh SheltonWilliam J. Haynes IIPaul WolfowitzAndrews Air Force BaseWar in AfghanistanOperation Enduring FreedomTommy FranksUnited States Central Commanddirect presidential elections on 9 October 2004Operation Iraqi FreedomSaddam Hussein's PalaceFall of Baghdadcaptured of HusseinCoalition Provisional AuthorityIraqi Interim Governmentparliamentary elections in 2005MongoliaMongolian PresidentNatsagiin BagabandiUlaanbaatarRonald S. ColemanPort-au-PrinceHaitian PresidentJean-Bertrand Aristidewas overthrown in a coup d'étatOperation Secure TomorrowUnited States Northern CommandUnited States Strategic Commandinterservice rivalryFort Myer, VirginiaCommand Pilot BadgeOffice of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Identification Badgeoak leaf clustersMeritorious Service MedalAir Force Commendation MedalJoint Meritorious Unit AwardOutstanding Unit AwardValor VOrganizational Excellence AwardCombat Readiness MedalNational Defense Service Medalservice stars