The Institute for Defense Analyses has selected retired Adm. Charles “Chas” Richard to serve as the Alexandria-based organization’s next president, effective March 14, 2026.
Richard brings more than 40 years of service in the U.S. Navy, culminating in his role as commander of U.S. Strategic Command from 2019 to 2022. In that capacity, he was responsible for the global command and control of all strategic U.S. nuclear forces, overseeing a workforce of more than 150,000 personnel focused on strategic deterrence, nuclear operations, and missile defense.
“Chas is a distinguished leader and strategist,” said Debby McWhinney, chair of the IDA Board of Trustees. “The Board looks forward to working with him to continue the IDA mission.”
Following his military retirement in January 2023, Richard transitioned to academia as the Schlesinger Distinguished Professor at the University of Virginia’s Miller Center.
Richard holds a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering from the University of Alabama, a master’s degree in engineering management from the Catholic University of America, and a master’s degree in national security studies from the U.S. Naval War College.
“Having benefitted from IDA’s research throughout my career, I am excited to join this world-class organization and to continue to attack our country’s most challenging national security issues,” Richard said.
He will succeed retired U.S. Air Force Gen. Norton A. Schwartz, who is retiring in March after six years as IDA’s president.
IDA is a nonprofit corporation that operates three federally funded research and development centers in the public interest. The organization answers U.S. security and science policy questions with objective analysis leveraging scientific, technical, and analytic expertise.
The institute is headquartered at 730 East Glebe Road in Alexandria.
