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Faculty & Staff

COL Richard D. Butler

Director, China Landpower Studies Center

Colonel Butler is a career military officer who hails from Rush, New York.  Following his commissioning as a Surface Warfare Officer in the United States Navy in 1995, he held Division Officer and Department Head assignments on USS The Sullivans (DDG 68), USS Nicholson (DD 982), and USS Hopper (DDG 70).  During this time, he took part in combat operations in Iraq and Kosovo.  He selected early for command and served twice as the Commanding Officer of USS Firebolt (PC 10) during Operation Iraqi Freedom.  He also commanded USS Shamal (PC 13) and USS Thunderbolt (PC 11).
 
During a joint assignment with III Corps, U.S. Army, he deployed two more times to Iraq as Lead Planner and Deputy Chief of Plans.  During these deployments he developed the planning for the surge and wrote the final drawdown plan for the campaign.  In 2010, he received permission to change his commission from the United States Navy to the United States Army, where he performs duties as a Strategist.  
 
As an Army Strategist, Colonel Butler served at U.S. Army, Pacific, performing duties as both the Southeast and Northeast Asia Plans Division Chief.  He also deployed to Jerusalem, where he was the Lead Planner at the United States Security Coordinator for Israel and the Palestinian Authority.  After attending the Army War College, he returned to U.S. Army, Pacific and assumed duties as the Assistant Chief of Staff, G5 responsible for strategy, campaigns, and operational plans.  He then served as the Director of the Commanders Action Group and the Strategy and Policy Chief at U.S. Indo-Pacific Command before moving to South Korea to assume duties as the Alliance Plans Chief.
 
In his current capacity, he leads the China Landpower Studies Center, responsible for understanding PLA strategies, capabilities, and development to inform Army, joint, and combined strategies and campaigns.   
 
Colonel Butler holds an undergraduate degree from the University of Rochester in history, and master’s degrees from the Naval Postgraduate School in National Security Affairs, and the U.S. Army War College in Strategic Studies.  He is also a graduate of the U.S. Naval War College. He is married to the former Jennifer Gould of Savannah, GA.  They are the proud parents of a daughter, Bridget.
 
Colonel Butler’s personal awards include the Defense Superior Service Medial (two awards), Legion of Merit, Bronze Star, Defense Meritorious Service Medal (three awards), and Meritorious Service Medal (two awards), Joint Commendation Medal, Navy Commendation Medal (two awards), Army Achievement Medal, Navy Achievement Medal (two awards), Military Outstanding Volunteer Service Medal and various campaign, service, and unit awards.   

By Department

Director’s Office

Dr. C. Anthony Pfaff – Director of SSI & USAWC Press​
Mr. Tom Kardos – Deputy Director
Melissa Holley – Administrative Officer

Strategic Research and Analysis Department (SRAD) & Outreach

COL Michael Anthony Shekleton (Shek) – Director
LTC Paul Milas – Director of African Affairs
Dr. James D. Scudieri – Senior Research Historian
MAJ Brennan Deveraux – National Security Researcher
Dr. John R. Deni – Research Professor of JIIM Security Studies
Dr. Evan Ellis – Research Professor of Latin American Studies
Dr. M. Chris Mason – Associate Professor of National Security
Dr. Richard A. Lacquement, Jr. – Research Professor of National Security Affairs
Dr. Michael E. Lynch – Research Associate Professor of the National Security Affairs

China Landpower Studies Center

COL Richard D. Butler – Director
Mr. Joshua Arostegui – Professor of Strategy, Chair of China Studies
Dr. Sheena Greitens – Visiting Associate Professor
Dr. Brian G. Carlson – Research Professor of Indo-Pacific Security Studies
Mr. Richard Gunnell – Research Professor of China Military Studies
Dr. Jake Rinaldi – Defense Analyst, China Landpower Studies Center
Mr. Jake Vartanian – Military Analyst, Landpower and Warfare

USAWC Press

Dr. Antulio J. Echevarria II – Editor in Chief
Ms. Lori K. Janning – Managing Editor/Parameters
Mr. Richard K. Leach – Digital Media Manager
Dr. Erin Forest – Developmental Editor
Ms. Stephanie D. Crider – Copy Editor
Ms. Ellie Foster – Copy Editor
Mrs. Kristen Taylor – Visual Information Specialist/Content Manager
Ms. Kaitlyn Guettler – Visual Information Specialist

Operations and Programs

Vacant– Operations Officer

Alphabetical Listing

A – F

Arostegui, Joshua – China Landpower Studies Center Chair
Butler, COL Richard D. – China Landpower Studies Center Director
Carlson, Dr. Brian G. – Research Professor of Indo-Pacific Security Studies
Crider, Stephanie D. – Copy Editor
Deni, Dr. John R. – Research Professor of JIIM Security Studies
Deveraux, MAJ Brennan – National Security Researcher
Echevarria II, Dr. Antulio J. – Editor in Chief
Ellis, Dr. Evan – Research Professor of Latin American Studies
Forest, Dr. Erin – Consulting Editor
Foster, Ms. Ellie – Copy Editor

 

G – J

Greitens, Dr. Sheena – Visiting Associate Professor, China Landpower Studies Center
Guettler, Ms. Kaitlyn – Visual Information Specialist
Gunnell, Richard – Research Professor of China Military Studies
Holley, Melissa – Administrative Officer
Janning, Ms. Lori K. – Managing Editor/Parameters

 

K – O

Kardos, Mr. Tom – Deputy Director
Lacquement, Dr. Richard A., Jr. – Research Professor of National Security Affairs
Leach, Mr. Richard K. – Digital Media Manager
Lynch, Dr. Michael E. – Research Associate Professor of National Security Affairs
Mason, Dr. M. Chris – Associate Professor of National Security
Milas, LTC Paul – Director of African Affairs

P – Z

Pfaff, Dr. C. Anthony – Director of SSI & USAWC Press
Rinaldi, Dr. Jake – Defense Analyst, China Landpower Studies Center
Scudieri, Dr. James D. – Senior Research Historian
Shekleton, COL Michael Anthony (Shek) – SRAD Director
Taylor, Mrs. Kristen – Visual Information Specialist/Content Manager
Vartanian, Dr. Jake – Military Analyst, Landpower and Warfare​