Richard Yu serves as the Director of the Digital Superiority Directorate (J6) and Chief Information Officer for the United States Space Command. In this role, he ensures the robustness of command, control, communication, and computer systems, assuring the Command’s global reach. Mr. Yu’s responsibilities include spearheading the integration of artificial intelligence and machine learning technologies into the Command’s operations. He is responsible for designing, implementing, and defending, the Space Warfighting Terrain initiative, a leap-ahead technology in the efficiency and effectiveness of future space combat operations. Mr. Yu also holds the title of Digital Terrain Authorization Official. This role places him in charge of ensuring the end-to-end cybersecurity compliance, managing cyber risks, and cryptographic modernization for all Space Command mission systems. Through his leadership in digital strategy and cybersecurity, he plays a key role in maintaining and advancing the United States Space Command’s digital superiority.
Prior to his current position, Mr. Yu served as the Senior Executive Capability Developer for the U.S. Army’s Space and Strategic Missile Defense capabilities at the Space and Missile Defense Center of Excellence, U.S. Army Space and Missile Defense Command with full responsibility to develop, direct, and execute plans and programs that allow USASMDC to accomplish its core mission and proponency responsibilities. In this capacity, Mr. Yu led the development of the Army’s first Space formation for the Theater Army with full complement of effects to conduct operations for space control, navigation warfare, tactical satellite operations, obfuscation, and high-altitude operations. In addition, Mr. Yu led the Title X capability development to complement the Strategic Missile Defense material solutions developed by the Missile Defense Agency to protect our nation and partners from strategic missile threats.
Mr. Yu has over 33 years of operational and acquisition experience in government civilian positions within the Department of the Army, Department of the Air Force, Missile Defense Agency, North Atlantic Treaty Organization, and the Office of Secretary Defense. His operational experience includes serving in key leadership positions at the U.S. Strategic Command, Joint Functional Component Command for Integrated Missile Defense. His acquisition experience in major programs include: NATO Bi-Strategic Command Alliance Information Systems, Terminal High Altitude Area Defense, Ground Based Midcourse Defense, F-16 Block 60, Chemical/Biological/Life Support systems and Airborne Warning and Control System.
EDUCATION
1988 Bachelor of Science, Mechanical Engineering, University of Texas, Austin
1989 Master of Science, Systems Engineering, University of Alabama, Huntsville
2002 National War College, Fort Lesley J. McNair, Washington, D.C.
CAREER CHRONOLOGY
1. June 1988–July 1998, Various leadership positions at Systems Program Offices for F-16, Human Systems capabilities, and Airborne Warning and Control System; and at the Office of Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition, Technology and Logistics, the Pentagon, Arlington, Va.
2. July 1998–January 2004, Director, Ground Based Midcourse Defense Schoolhouse; and Systems Engineer, GMD Fire Control System, Schriever Space Force Base, Colo.
3. January 2004–June 2005, Deputy Project Manager for Ballistic Missile Defense Integration, Terminal High Altitude Area Defense Project Office, Missile Defense Agency, Huntsville, Ala.
4. June 2005–March 2018, Command Technical Director and Director of Test and Analysis Directorate (J8), Joint Functional Component Command for Integrated Missile Defense, United States Strategic Command, Shriever SFB, Colo.
5. June 2009–July 2012, Executive Program Manager, Bi-Strategic Command Allied Information Systems, North Atlantic Treaty Organization Communication and Information Agency, Brussels, Belgium
6. April 2018–December 2021, Director, Capability Development and Integration Directorate, United States Army Space and Missile Defense Command, Peterson SFB, Colo.
7. January 2022–present, Director, Digital Superiority (J6) Directorate, United States Space Command, Peterson SFB, Colo.
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
1991 Air Force Systems Command Engineer of the Year
2001 Ballistic Missile Defense Organization Award for Significant Technical Achievement
2004 Office of the Secretary of Defense’s Medal for Exceptional Civilian Service
2009 Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Joint Distinguished Civilian Service Award
2018 Office of the Chairman of the JCS Joint Meritorious Civilian Service Award
2022 U.S. Army Civilian Meritorious Service Medal
PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIP
Defense Acquisition Corp (2002)
OTHER ACHIEVEMENTS
Acquisition Certification Level III, Project Management, Systems Engineering, Test and Evaluation, Defense Acquisition University
(Current as of April 2024)