Dr. Richard A. Lacquement Jr. (Colonel, retired, U.S. Army) is a Research Professor of the Military Profession in USAWC's Strategic Studies Institute and is the Director of the National Security Policy Program (NSPP). From 2012 to 2020 he was the first Dean, School of Strategic Landpower, at the U.S. Army War College. He is a Political Scientist with a doctorate in International Relations. He specializes in Security Studies. He has taught academic courses on international relations, American politics, international organizations, theory of war and strategy, strategy and policy, and U.S. national security policy. 
During more than 29 years of active military service, he was an Army Strategist and Field Artillery officer. His experience in peace and war included a broad mix of assignments at the tactical, operational and strategic levels of the armed forces as well as several assignments in professional military education. He retired from active duty in 2013. 
He was commissioned into the Field Artillery upon graduation from the United States Military Academy (USMA) in 1984. His first assignment was in the 82nd Airborne Division Artillery, Fort Bragg, NC. After the Armor Officer Advance Course, in 1989 he was assigned to the 1st Armored Division, Nurnberg, Germany where he served in the Division Artillery to include combat in Operation Desert Storm. He then served as Battalion Logistics Officer (S4) and later as a Battery Commander in 3-1 FA, 3rd Infantry Division, Bamberg, Germany. 
In 1995 he completed his Masters in Public Administration degree at Princeton University in preparation for assignment to the United States Military Academy at West Point, NY where served as an instructor and later Assistant Professor of Social Sciences from 1995 to 1998. From 1998 to 2001 he served in the 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault), Fort Campbell, KY, as Division Assistant Fire Support Coordinator, 3-320th FA Battalion Executive Officer and Division Artillery Executive Officer. 
In 2002, after attending the College of Naval Command and Staff in Newport, RI, he became a Strategist (Functional Area 59) and joined the faculty of the U.S. Naval War College as a Professor of Strategy and Policy. In 2003 he served temporary duty assignments as the Division Chief of the Army G3/5/7 Stability Operations Planning Cell and later as a Special Assistant to the Commanding General of the 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault) during counterinsurgency operations in Northern Iraq (Operation Iraqi Freedom). In 2005 he served in U.S. Army Human Resources Command as Chief of the Officer Professional Development Team of the Officer Professional Management System (OPMS) Task Force. From 2005-2006 he was assigned to the Office of the Secretary of Defense for Policy as a Strategist and Special Assistant for Stability Operations. From 2006 to 2008, he was Chief, J5 Plans, U.S. Forces Korea. From June 2010 to July 2011 he served as a Strategy Advisor and Liaison between NATO's International Security Assistance Force Joint Command and the Afghan Independent Directorate of Local Governance (Operation Enduring Freedom). Before his selection as Dean, he served in the USAWC Department of National Security and Strategy as Director of Military History and Strategy and as Director of the National Security Policy Program. 
Dr. Lacquement earned his Ph.D. from Princeton University's School of Public and International Affairs (2000). He also holds Masters Degrees from the U.S. Naval War College (2002) and the U.S. Army War College (2009). 
He is the author of the book Shaping American Military Capabilities after the Cold War and of several articles and book chapters on national security, military professionalism, civil-military relations, stability operations, and counterinsurgency.
Dr. Lacquement's awards and decorations include the Defense Superior Service Medal; Legion of Merit; two Bronze Star Medals; three Defense Meritorious Service Medals; two Meritorious Service Medals; Afghanistan, Iraq and Southwest Asia Campaign Medals; Korea Defense Service Medal; Ranger Tab; Master Parachutist's Badge; and Air Assault Badge.