Brig. Gen. Ryan E. Richardson is the Director of Human Capital (J1), Headquarters United States Strategic Command, Offutt Air Force Base, Nebraska. USSTRATCOM is comprised of 41,000 Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen, Marines, Guardians and civilians responsible for strategic deterrence, nuclear operations, global strike, missile defense, joint electromagnetic spectrum operations, analysis and targeting and missile threat assessment. The J1 team assures an agile, ready force for planning, headquarters strength management and human resource and innovation policy in direct support of USSTRATCOM operations.
Brig. Gen. Richardson received his commission in 1998 through the Reserve Officer Training Corps program at South Dakota State University. He has commanded at the wing, group and squadron levels and previously served in a variety of assignments at major command, forward operating agency, secretariat, Headquarters U.S. Air Force, combatant command and Joint Staff levels. Brig. Gen. Richardson deployed in support of operations Joint Forge and Enduring Freedom. He also served forward as the Director, Manpower, Personnel and Services in support of operations Inherent Resolve and Freedom's Sentinel and the Resolute Support mission.
Prior to his current position, Brig. Gen. Richardson was the Commander, 42nd Air Base Wing and Installation Commander for Maxwell AFB, Alabama.
EDUCATION
1998 Bachelor of Science, Biology (pre-med), South Dakota State University, Brookings, S.D.
2003 Squadron Officer School (outstanding contributor), Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala.
2009 Master of Arts, Business Administration, and Management, Webster University, St. Louis, Mo.
2011 Air Command and Staff College, Maxwell AFB, Ala., by correspondence
2012 Strategic Policy Fellowship, Washington, D.C.
2018 Master of Science, National Security Strategy, National War College, Fort Lesley J. McNair, Washington, D.C.
2020 Data Science for Data Leadership, AGovX, Arlington, Va.
2021 Leading Strategically, Center for Creative Leadership, Colorado Springs, Colo.
2024 National Security Managers Course, Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs, Syracuse University, N.Y.
2025 Leading Data and AI-Enabled Organizations, Applied Physics Laboratory, Johns Hopkins University, Md.
2025 Flag and Executive Leadership Implementation Course (FELIX-28), U.S. Navy, Offutt Air Force Base, Neb.
2026 Enterprise Leadership Seminar, Kenan-Flagler Business School, University of North Carolina, N.C.
ASSIGNMENTS
1. May 1999–February 2001, Squadron Section Commander, 15th Reconnaissance Squadron, Creech Air Force Base, Nev.
2. February 2001–July 2001, Squadron Section Commander, 99th Mission Support Squadron, Nellis AFB, Nev.
3. July 2001–July 2002, Executive Officer, 99th Support Group, Nellis AFB, Nev.
4. July 2002–June 2003, Chief, Air Expeditionary Force Plans and Exercises, Directorate of Personnel, Headquarters Air Mobility Command, Scott AFB, Ill.
5. June 2003–June 2004, Chief, Air Expeditionary Force and Deployment Accountability, Directorate of Personnel, Headquarters Air Mobility Command, Scott AFB, Ill.
6. June 2004–September 2005, Deputy Chief, Senior Officer Management Division, Directorate of Personnel, Headquarters Air Mobility Command, Scott AFB, Ill.
7. September 2005–March 2007, Military Personnel Flight Commander, Altus AFB, Okla.
8. March 2007–September 2007, Commander, 97th Mission Support Squadron, Altus AFB, Okla.
9. September 2007–April 2009, Recorder, U.S. Air Force Selection Board Secretariat, Headquarters Air Force Personnel Center, Randolph AFB, Texas
10. April 2009–January 2010, Senior Recorder, U.S. Air Force Selection Board Secretariat, Headquarters Air Force Personnel Center, Randolph AFB, Texas
11. January 2010–October 2010, Chief of Operations, U.S. Air Force Selection Board Secretariat, Headquarters Air Force Personnel Center, Randolph AFB, Texas
12. October 2010–June 2011, Program Manager, U.S. Air Force Electronic Board Operations, Headquarters Air Force Personnel Center, Randolph AFB, Texas
13. June 2011–June 2012, Strategic Policy Fellow, Joint Chiefs of Staff J5, Pol-Mil Africa and Office of the Secretary of the Air Force, Legislative Liaison, Washington, D.C.
14. June 2012–July 2013, Chief, Colonel Force Support Assignments, Deputy Chief of Staff, Manpower, Personnel and Services, Headquarters U.S. Air Force, Washington, D.C.
15. July 2013–July 2015, Commander, 48th Force Support Squadron, RAF Lakenheath, United Kingdom
16. July 2015–July 2016, Executive Officer, Headquarters Air Force Personnel Center, Randolph AFB, Texas
17. July 2016–July 2017, Director, AFCENT/A1 (Forward), U.S. Air Forces Central Command, Southwest Asia
18. July 2017–June 2018, Student, National War College, Fort Lesley J. McNair, Washington, D.C.
19. June 2018–July 2019, Chief, Special Operations Support Team, U.S. Special Operations Command–U.S. Agency for International Development, Washington, D.C.
20. July 2019–July 2021, Commander, 56th Mission Support Group, Luke AFB, Ariz.
21. August 2021–July 2022, Director, Manpower, Personnel and Services, Headquarters U.S. Air Forces in Europe–Air Forces Africa, Ramstein Air Base, Germany
22. July 2022–July 2024, Commander, 42nd Air Base Wing, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
23. August 2024–present, Director, Human Capital Directorate, Headquarters U.S. Strategic Command, Offutt AFB, Neb.
SUMMARY OF JOINT ASSIGNMENTS
1. July 2016–July 2017, Director, AFCENT/ A1 (Forward), U.S. Air Forces Central Command, Southwest Asia, as a lieutenant colonel
2. June 2018–July 2019, Chief, Special Operations Support Team, U.S. Special Operations Command-U.S. Agency for International Development, Washington, D.C., as a lieutenant colonel, then colonel
3. August 2024–present, Director, Human Capital Directorate, Headquarters U.S. Strategic Command, Offutt Air Force Base, Neb.
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Legion of Merit with oak leaf cluster
Defense Meritorious Service Medal with oak leaf cluster
Meritorious Service Medal with four oak leaf clusters
Air and Space Commendation Medal with oak leaf cluster
Army Commendation Medal
OTHER ACHIEVEMENTS
2014 U.S. Air Force Lieutenant General Norm Lezy Award
2024 Air Education and Training Command General and Mrs Jerome F. O’Malley Award
(Current as of February 2026)