Richard B. Andres is a Full Professor of National Security Strategy at the U.S. National War College, where he teaches strategy and war. His research focuses on technology and national security, with particular emphasis on cyber, artificial intelligence, and aerospace. His recent publications examine cyber offense, deterrence, China, and defense reform. He earned his Ph.D. in Political Science from the University of California, Davis.
Leadership Roles
At National Defense University, Dr. Andres directs several major university initiatives. He leads Purple Tempest, the university’s annual wargame, which brings together more than 80 faculty in support of 600 students. He also directs the Emerging Aerospace Technology Working Group, a university-wide initiative focused on the military applications of aerospace technology in contemporary war, bringing faculty, students, and senior leaders together for regular discussion. In addition, he leads the Cyber Security Practicum, which connects NDU students and faculty with senior leaders across the Department of War and the National Security Council, and he directs the National War College’s artificial intelligence integration program.
Operational and Strategic Experience
Dr. Andres has extensive experience in military planning at both the operational and strategic levels. He has led teams responsible for war planning for the Office of the Secretary of Defense, the Joint Staff, and multiple combatant commands. Over the course of his career, he has also served as a strategy consultant to senior national security leaders, including the Director of the National Security Agency and Commander of U.S. Cyber Command, the Chief of Staff of the Air Force, the Secretary of the Air Force, and the Commandant of the Marine Corps. He has also led strategy development teams in both the Bush and Trump administrations.
Academic and Institutional Affiliations
Dr. Andres has held senior board positions at institutions including the American Enterprise Institute, Argonne National Laboratory, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, and St. Thomas University School of Law. He has also served as a senior fellow or faculty member at the Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies, the McCrary Institute for Cyber and Critical Infrastructure Security, the Institute for National Strategic Studies, the University of California’s Joint Center for International and Security Studies, the Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies, and Georgetown University’s Security Studies Program.
Dr. Andres is also committed to mentoring the next generation of national security leaders.
Recent Publications
- Andres, Richard B. "Recursive Exploitation: The Feedback Loop of Espionage and Innovation in China's 5G, AI, and Quantum Technology". In Strategic Assessment 2025: Evolving Great Power Competition at Mid-Decade, edited by Thomas F. Lynch III, 182–200. Washington, DC: National Defense University Press, 2025.
- Richard B. Andres, T. Michael Moseley, and Lary Stutzriem, “A Call for a New NSC-68 and Goldwater Nichols Reform,” (Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies, December 2024).
- Richard B. Andres, “Cyber Geopolitics & China’s Disruptive Strategy.” A Research Agenda for Cybersecurity Law and Policy, edited by Roy Balleste, Giles Doucet, and Michelle L.D. Hanlon (EE Elgar Publishing, 2024).
Link to Published Works