The Department of Military Science has been in continuous operation since Lt. Albert Todd of the First United States Artillery was detailed by the War Department to supervise this activity at Kansas State College in 1881. He was an 1872 graduate of this college. The actual Military Science Building was finished in 1943 - the only building completed on the campus during World War II. Offices for Army and Air Force administrative personnel, classrooms and a "gallery" for rifle practice and contests are included in this building.
The building is named in honor of General Richard B. Myers, a K-State alum who served as chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff from 2001-2005. In the position, he was the principal military adviser to Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld, President George W. Bush and the National Security Council.
Myers graduated from K-State in 1965, where he earned a bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering and was a member of the university's Air Force ROTC program. During his military career, Myers commanded various Air Force operations in the United States and abroad, among other leadership positions. Prior to becoming the 15th chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Myers served as vice chairman and as assistant to the chairman. He retired from the Air Force in September 2005 and now holds a part-time appointment at K-State as a Foundation professor of military history and leadership.