Deputy Director, Strategic Planning and Policy Directorate (J50)

Brig. Gen. Neil R. Richardson is the Deputy Director for Strategic Planning and Policy, United States Indo-Pacific Command. He is responsible for advising CDRUSINDOPACOM on military, political, economic, and strategic policies. General Richardson oversees the preparation of policy and planning of pol-mil affairs within the USINDOPACOM Area of Responsibility (AOR). He develops, coordinates, and implements USINDOPACOM’s Theater Strategy, Campaign Plan, Theater Posture Plan, Operational Plans/Contingency Plans/Functional Plans and associated Time-Phased Force and Deployment Data. In addition, General Richardson coordinates defense related policy, security cooperation, and military assistance programs across the Indo-Pacific AOR, integrating all military engagement in support of the United States’ national objectives.

Brig. Gen. Richardson received his commission from the Reserve Officer Training Corps at New Mexico State University in May 1995, where he earned a Bachelor of Business Administration in Management Information Systems. He attended Undergraduate Navigator Training at Randolph AFB, Texas, and went on to serve as a C-130 Navigator, Instructor Navigator, C-130 Formal Training Unit flight Instructor, and C-130 Weapons Officer.

Brig. Gen. Richardson is a master navigator with over 2,300 hours and has operational experience in the Pacific, Europe and North Africa as well as combat tours in operations Joint Guardian, Joint Force, Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom.  Prior to his current assignment, he served as the Deputy Director of Operations, Strategic Deterrence and Nuclear Integration, Headquarters Air Mobility Command. He has held a variety of positions at the Squadron, Wing, Major Command, and Combatant Command levels.

EDUCATION

1995      BA in Management Information Systems, New Mexico State University, Las Cruces, N.M.

2000      C-130 Weapons Instructor Course, United States Air Force Weapons School, Little Rock AFB, Ark.

2001      Squadron Officer School, Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala.

2006      Air Command and Staff College by correspondence

2007      Masters in Military Operational Arts/Science, American Military University Online

2009      Intermediate Developmental Education, Legislative Fellowship, Washington,D.C.

2011      Air War College by correspondence

2015      National War College, Fort McNair, Washington,D.C.

2020      Capstone General and Flag Officer Course, National Defense University, Fort Lesley J. McNair, Washington, D.C.

2022      Senior Joint Information Operations Applications Course, Air University, Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala

ASSIGNMENTS

1. June 1995 – December 1996, Student, Undergraduate Navigator Training, Randolph AFB, Texas
2. December 1996 – May 1997, Student, C-130 Initial Qualification Training, Little Rock AFB, Ark.
3. May 1997 – May 2000, C-130 Navigator, Instructor Navigator, Squadron Executive Officer, 37th Airlift Squadron, Ramstein AB, Germany
4. May 2000 – December 2000, Student, United States Air Force Weapons School, Little Rock AFB, Ark.
5. Jan 2001 – May 2003, C-130 Weapons Officer, Formal Training Unit Instructor, Life Support Officer, Tactics Flight Commander, and Group Executive Officer, 314th Airlift Wing, Little Rock AFB, Ark.
6. May 2003 – May 2005, C-130 Weapons Instructor Cadre, Little Rock AFB, Ark.
7. June 2005 – May 2008, Chief,C-130 Combat Programs and Policy Branch, Chief, Information Operations and Aerospace Integration Branch, HQAMC/A3D, Scott AFB, Ill.
8. June 2008 – December 2009, Student, Legislative Fellowship, Washington D.C.
9. January 2010 – January 2011, Director of Operations, 50th Airlift Squadron, Little Rock AFB, Ark.
10. February 2010 –December 2011, Commander, 447th Expeditionary Operations Support Squadron, Baghdad, Iraq
11. January 2012 – Jun 2012, Deputy Commander, 19^th Maintenance Group, Little Rock AFB, Ark.
12. Jul 2012 – July 2014, Deputy Director, Legislative and Interagency Affairs, United States Transportation Command, Arlington, Va.
13. August 2014 – July 2015, Student, National War College, Washington D.C.
14. August 2015 – May 2017, Vice Commander, 374th Airlift Wing, Yokota Air Base, Japan
15. June 2017 – July 2019, Commander, Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst and 87th Air Base Wing, Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, N.J.
16. August 2019 – July 2021, Chief, Senate Legislative Liaison, Office of the Secretary of the Air Force, Pentagon, Washington, D.C.
17. July 2021 –June 2023, Deputy Director of Operations, Strategic Deterrence and Nuclear Integration, Headquarters Air Mobility Command, Scott AFB, Ill.
18. June 2023 –Present; Deputy Director for Strategic Planning and Policy, U.S. Indo-Pacific Command, Camp H.M. Smith, Hawaii

SUMMARY OF JOINT ASSIGNMENTS

1. Jul 2012 – July 2014, Deputy Director, Legislative and Interagency Affairs, United States Transportation Command, Arlington, Va., as aLieutenant Colonel
2. Jun 2023 – Present, Deputy Director for Strategic Planning and Policy, U.S. Indo-Pacific Command, Camp H.M. Smith, Hawaii, as a Brigadier General

FLIGHT INFORMATION

MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS

EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION

(Current as of July 2023)