April 15, 2016
Kansas Board of Regents announce interim president at Kansas State University
Submitted by Kansas Board of Regents
The Kansas Board of Regents announced Thursday the appointment of Richard B. Myers as interim president at Kansas State University.
"It is such an honor to have Retired Gen. Myers serve in this capacity," stated Shane Bangerter, Chair of the Kansas Board of Regents. "I am confident, given the tremendous leadership experience he has gained throughout his career, that Retired Gen. Myers will successfully oversee K-State while we search for the university’s next president."
Retired U.S. Air Force General Richard B. Myers served as the 15th Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff from 2001 to 2005. As the nation's highest ranking military officer, Myers served as the principal military advisor to the President, the Secretary of Defense, and the National Security Council. Prior to becoming Chairman, Myers served as Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. Myers has commanded at all levels and served in significant staff positions throughout the Air Force. His largest commands included U.S. Forces Japan and 5th Air Force at Yokota Air Base, Japan; Pacific Air Forces at Hickam Air Force Base, Hawaii; and the North American Aerospace Defense Command, U.S. Space Command and Air Force Space Command at Peterson Air Force Base in Colorado.
Born and raised in Merriam, Kansas, retired Gen. Myers is a graduate of Kansas State University, where he earned a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering (1965); Auburn University, where he earned a Master's degree in Business Administration (1977); Air Command and Staff College at Maxwell Air Force Base (1977); U.S. Army War College at Carlisle Barracks (1981); and John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University, where he completed a program for Senior Executives in National and International Security (1991). He holds a part-time appointment at K-State as a Foundation professor of military history and leadership, is chairman of the KSU Foundation's Board of Trustees, an ex officio member of the KSU Foundation Board of Directors, and he and his wife serve as co-chairs of the Foundation’s Innovation & Inspiration campaign. Retired Gen. Myers will begin as Interim President in late-April.
An introduction of the interim president to the university community will be held on Wednesday, April 20 from 8:15-8:45 a.m. in Forum Hall at the K-State Student Union. This will be held in conjunction with the April meeting of the Kansas Board of Regents taking place the same day on K-State's Manhattan campus. More details will be forthcoming.
Retired Gen. Myers joined the Air Force in 1965 through the ROTC program at Kansas State University, after which he entered pilot training at Vance Air Force Base. A command pilot, he has more than 4,100 flying hours, primarily in the F-4, F-15 and F-16, including 600 combat hours in the F-4. He received the Presidential Medal of Freedom on November 9, 2005.