Charles A. Richard

Charles A. Richard
Charles A. Richard
Nickname(s)	Chas
Born	1959 (age 62–63); Decatur, Alabama, U.S.
Allegiance	United States
Branch	United States Navy
Years of service	1982–present
Rank	Admiral
Commands held	United States Strategic Command; Submarine Forces; Submarine Force Atlantic; Allied Submarine Command; Submarine Group 10; Submarine Squadron 17; Deep Submergence Vessel NR-1; USS Parche (SSN-683)
Awards	Defense Distinguished Service Medal (2); Navy Distinguished Service Medal; Defense Superior Service Medal (3); Legion of Merit (5)
Alma mater	University of Alabama (BS); Catholic University of America (MA)

Charles Anthony "Chas" Richard (born 1959)^[1] is a United States Navy admiral who currently serves as the 11th commander of United States Strategic Command. He previously served as Commander Submarine Forces, Submarine Force Atlantic and Allied Submarine Command.

Early life and education[]

Richard is a native of Decatur, Alabama, and is a 1982 graduate with honors from the University of Alabama. He has earned master's degrees with honors from the Catholic University of America and the Naval War College.

Naval career[]

Richard's operational assignments include command of USS Parche (SSN-683) as well as Submarine NR-1, then the United States Navy's only nuclear-powered, deep-submergence submarine. He also served aboard USS Portsmouth (SSN-707), USS Asheville (SSN-758) and USS Scranton (SSN-756).

Richard's staff assignments include service as the executive assistant and naval aide to the Under Secretary of the Navy; chief of staff, Submarine Force Atlantic; and command of Submarine Squadron 17 in Bangor, Washington. Other staff assignments include director of resources, Under Secretary of Defense (Policy); squadron engineer of Submarine Squadron 8 and duty on the Deputy Chief of Naval Operations (Submarine Warfare) staff. He has also served as a member of Chief of Naval Operations' Strategic Studies Group XXVIII, studying the integration of unmanned systems into naval force structure.

Flag officer assignments include command of Submarine Group 10 in Kings Bay, Georgia; director of Undersea Warfare (OPNAV N97), Pentagon, and deputy commander, Joint Functional Component Command for Global Strike at United States Strategic Command.

As commander, Submarine Forces, Richard is the undersea domain lead, and is responsible for the submarine force's strategic vision. As commander, Submarine Force Atlantic, he commands all Atlantic-based United States submarines, their crews and supporting shore activities. These responsibilities also include duties as Commander, Task Force (CTF) 144, CTF 84; commander, Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW) Forces Western Atlantic; and CTF 46. As commander, Allied Submarine Command, he provides advice to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization Strategic Commanders on submarine related issues.

On October 15, 2019, Richard was nominated for promotion to admiral and reassignment as the commanding officer of United States Strategic Command. He appeared for a hearing before the United States Senate Committee on Armed Services on October 24 and was confirmed by voice vote of the full Senate on October 31. He took over from General Hyten on November 18, 2019.^[2] In October 2021, Politico reported that Richard was among the candidates shortlisted to succeed Hyten as Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.^[3]

Awards and decorations[]

Officer Submarine Warfare insignia
Defense Distinguished Service Medal w/ 1 bronze oak leaf cluster	Navy Distinguished Service Medal	Defense Superior Service Medal w/ 2 oak leaf clusters
Legion of Merit w/ 4 gold award stars	Defense Meritorious Service Medal	Meritorious Service Medal
Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal w/ 3 award stars	Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal w/ 2 award stars	Navy Presidential Unit Citation
Joint Meritorious Unit Award	Navy Unit Commendation	Navy Meritorious Unit Commendation
Navy "E" Ribbon with wreathed Battle E award	Navy Expeditionary Medal	National Defense Service Medal w/ 1 bronze service star
Navy Sea Service Deployment Ribbon w/ 2 service stars	Navy Arctic Service Ribbon	NATO Medal for the former Yugoslavia
Officer Deep Submergence insignia
Command at Sea insignia
United States Strategic Command Badge

References[]

^ Register of Commissioned and Warrant Officers of the United States Navy on Active Duty. Bureau of Naval Personnel. October 1, 1990. p. 81. Retrieved 2021-06-05.
^ "PN1181 — Adm. Charles A. Richard — Navy". U.S. Congress. 31 October 2019. Retrieved 2019-11-01.
^ McLeary, Paul (2021-10-18). "Lawmakers on edge over lack of nominee for top Joint Chiefs job". Politico.

This article incorporates public domain material from the United States Navy document: "Admiral Charles A. 'Chas' Richard".

External links[]

Media related to Charles A. Richard at Wikimedia Commons
Biography at U.S. Strategic Command
U.S. Navy Biography

Military offices
Preceded by ???	Deputy Commander of Joint Functional Component Command for Global Strike 2012–2013	Succeeded by
Preceded by Joseph E. Tofalo	Commander of Submarine Group 10 2013–2015	Succeeded by Randy B. Crites
Preceded by Joseph E. Tofalo	Director of Undersea Warfare of United States Navy 2015–2016	Succeeded by William R. Merz
Preceded by Acting	Deputy Commander of the United States Strategic Command 2016–2018	Succeeded by David Kriete
Preceded by Joseph E. Tofalo	Commander of Naval Submarine Forces and Submarine Force Atlantic 2018-2019	Succeeded by Daryl L. Caudle
Preceded by Joseph E. Tofalo	Commander of the 2018-2019	Succeeded by Daryl L. Caudle
Preceded by John E. Hyten	Commander of the United States Strategic Command 2019–present	Incumbent
U.S. order of precedence (ceremonial)
Preceded by Stephen J. Townsend as Commander of U.S. Africa Command	Order of precedence of the United States as Commander of U.S. Strategic Command	Succeeded by Glen D. VanHerck as Commander of U.S. Northern Command

[1] Register of Commissioned and Warrant Officers of the United States Navy on Active Duty. Bureau of Naval Personnel. October 1, 1990. p. 81. Retrieved 2021-06-05.

[2] "PN1181 — Adm. Charles A. Richard — Navy". U.S. Congress. 31 October 2019. Retrieved 2019-11-01.

[3] McLeary, Paul (2021-10-18). "Lawmakers on edge over lack of nominee for top Joint Chiefs job". Politico.

[1]

[2]

[3]

v t Senior officials in the United States Department of Defense
Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin Deputy Secretary of Defense Kathleen Hicks Secretaries of the Military Departments Secretary of the Army: Christine Wormuth Secretary of the Navy: Carlos Del Toro Secretary of the Air Force: Frank Kendall III Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff GEN Mark Milley, USA Under Secretaries of the Military Departments Under Secretary of the Army: Gabe Camarillo Under Secretary of the Navy: Meredith Berger (acting) Under Secretary of the Air Force: Gina Ortiz Jones Under Secretaries of Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment: Andrew P. Hunter (acting) Research and Engineering: Heidi Shyu Policy: Colin Kahl Comptroller/Chief Financial Officer: Michael J. McCord Personnel and Readiness: Gil Cisneros Intelligence: Ronald Moultrie Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff ADM Christopher W. Grady, USN Chiefs of the Military Services Chief of Staff of the Army: GEN James C. McConville Commandant of the Marine Corps: Gen David H. Berger Chief of Naval Operations: ADM Michael M. Gilday Chief of Staff of the Air Force: Gen Charles Q. Brown Jr. Chief of Space Operations: Gen John W. Raymond Chief of the National Guard Bureau GEN Daniel R. Hokanson, USA Unified Combatant Command Commanders Africa: GEN Stephen J. Townsend, USA Central: Gen Kenneth F. McKenzie Jr., USMC Cyber: GEN Paul M. Nakasone, USA European: Gen Tod D. Wolters, USAF Indo-Pacific: ADM John C. Aquilino, USN Northern: Gen Glen D. VanHerck, USAF Southern: GEN Laura J. Richardson, USA Space: GEN James H. Dickinson, USA Special Operations: GEN Richard D. Clarke, USA Strategic: ADM Charles A. Richard, USN Transportation: Gen Jacqueline Van Ovost, USAF
^a - Acting