Introduction to Modern Operational Strategic Deterrence

USN Admiral (Retired) Chas Richard

Admiral Richard is the 2023-2024 Miller Center James R. Schlesinger Distinguished Professor, having completed career of more than 41 years in service to the nation. His final assignment was as commander of U.S. Strategic Command from November 2019 to December 2022, responsible for one of 11 unified commands under the Department of Defense. At STRATCOM, Richard oversaw the global command and control of all the nation’s nuclear forces to achieve the national security objective of strategic deterrence. He was responsible for more than 150,000 people conducting strategic deterrence and nuclear operations, nuclear command and control, global strike, missile defense, electromagnetic spectrum operations, and analysis and targeting. Richard has a unique breadth and depth of operational and policy experience in undersea and strategic warfare.

The former STRATCOM commander will be giving his thoughts on the fundamentals of strategic deterrence and how they are changing on our modern environment.