Colonel RICHARD R. BECKMAN Col. Richard R. Beckman is the Commander, Phillips Research Site and Director of the Air Force Research Laboratory Space Vehicles Directorate, Kirtland Air Force Base, New Mexico. He leads a team of 1,080 military, civilian, and contractors who comprise the nation's center of excellence for military space science and technology, research and development, as well as advanced technologies integration and demonstration. His organization develops enduring space capabilities for the U.S. Space Force, including communications, position, navigation and timing, missile warning, space domain awareness and space control. The directorate also contributes science and technology for advanced nuclear systems to enhance nuclear deterrent capabilities. Prior to his current position, Col. Beckman served as Senior Materiel Leader and Chief Integrated Experiments and Evaluations Division at the Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL), Space Vehicles Directorate, and led a team of 160 military, civilians, and contractors in managing concept ideation, assessment, acquisition, operation, and transition activities for numerous satellite research and development programs supporting AFRL and the United States Space Force. Col. Beckman was commissioned in 1999 through the Reserve Officer Training Corps program at Tulane University. After completing his Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering focusing on positioning, navigation, and timing systems for autonomous underwater surveillance systems, he entered active duty in 2001. Col. Beckman’s career includes multiple assignments spanning the full intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance acquisition life cycle from research and development to sustainment. His assignments include Research Engineer, Research Branch Chief, Lead Test Engineer, Program Manager, Program Element Monitor, Materiel Leader and Joint Staff J-8. In August 2021, Col. Beckman transferred from the U.S. Air Force and was sworn into the U.S. Space Force as the Air Force Technical Applications Center’s first Guardian Vice Commander in the center’s history. During his tenure at AFTAC, Col. Beckman served as the Vice Commander, Air Force Technical Applications Center, Patrick Space Force Base, Fla. AFTAC operates and maintains the United States Atomic Energy Detection System that monitors foreign compliance with various treaties limiting nuclear testing. The focus of AFTAC’s more than 1,000 professionals is to detect special events in the atmosphere, underwater, underground and in space, determine if they are nuclear, and report them to national decision makers. EDUCATION 1999 Bachelor of Science degree in Electrical Engineering, Tulane University, New Orleans, La. 2000 Master of Science degree in Electrical Engineering, Tulane University, New Orleans, La. 2001 Doctor of Philosophy in Electrical Engineering, Tulane University, New Orleans, La. 2006 Squadron Officer School, Maxwell AFB, Ala. 2007 Air Command and Staff College (correspondence) 2011 Intermediate Development Education, Research Fellow, National Defense Intelligence College, Washington, D.C. 2014 Air War College (correspondence) 2018 Master of Strategic Studies, Air War College, Maxwell AFB, Ala. ASSIGNMENTS or CAREER CHRONOLOGY 1. May 1999 – July 2001, Student, Air Force Institute of Technology, Distance Learning Program, Tulane University, New Orleans, La. 2. July 2001 – November 2003, Program Manager, Navigation Warfare Technology, Sensors Directorate, Air Force Research Laboratory, Wright Patterson AFB, Ohio 3. November 2003 – January 2005, Atmospheric and Navigation Research Scientist, Communications Directorate, National Reconnaissance Office, Washington, D.C. 4. January 2005 – June 2006, Information Applications Program Manager, Communications Directorate, National Reconnaissance Office, Washington, D.C. 5. June 2006 – November 2007, Branch Chief, Intelligence Network Technology, Communications Directorate, National Reconnaissance Office, Washington, D.C. 6. November 2007 – April 2009, Program Manager, Airborne Signals Intelligence Payload, 659th Aeronautical Systems Squadron, Wright Patterson AFB, Ohio 7. April 2009 – August 2010, Deputy Director, SIGINT programs, 659th Aeronautical Systems Squadron, Wright Patterson AFB, Ohio 8. August 2010 – July 2011, IDE Research Fellow, National Defense Intelligence College, Washington, D.C. 9. July 2011 – July 2014, Branch Chief, Medium and High Altitude UAS, Office of the Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Acquisition, Washington, D.C. 10. July 2014 - June 2017, Material Leader, Next Generation Operational Control Segment, Global Positioning Systems (GPS) Directorate, Space and Missile Systems Center, Air Force Space Command, Los Angeles AFB, Ca. 11. July 2017 – June 2018, Air War College Student, Air War College, Maxwell AFB, Ala. 12. July 2018 – July 2021, Space and Cyber Branch Chief, Capabilities and Acquisition Division, Directorate for Force Structure, Resources, and Assessment, J-8, Joint Staff, Pentagon, Washington, D.C. 13. August 2021 – June 2023, Vice Commander, AFTAC, Patrick SFB, Fla. 14. July 2023– July 2025, Senior Materiel Leader and Chief, Integrated Experiments and Evaluations Division, Space Vehicles Directorate, Air Force Research Laboratory, Kirtland AFB, N.M 15. July 2025 – current, Commander, Phillips Research Site and Director of the Air Force Research Laboratory Space Vehicles Directorate, Kirtland AFB, N.M. SUMMARY OF JOINT ASSIGNMENTS 1. July 2018 – July 2021, Chief, Space/C4 Branch, Joint Chiefs of Staff (J8), Pentagon, Washington, D.C. MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS Legion of Merit Defense Meritorious Service Medal with two oak leaf clusters Meritorious Service Medal with oak leaf cluster Air Force Commendation Medal Joint Service Achievement Medal OTHER ACHIEVEMENTS 2001 U.S. Patent 6,256,264, Localization of a Submerged Tow Vehicle 2004 U.S. Patent 6,819,984, A Positioning System for Underwater Vessels 2005 Director’s Circle Award for Leadership, National Reconnaissance Office 2007 Medal for Superior Service (Silver), National Reconnaissance Office 2009 Association of Old Crows, A.C. McMullin Test and Evaluation National Award 2017 Rotary National Award for Space Achievement, Stellar Award EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION Second Lieutenant - May 14, 1999 First Lieutenant - June 14, 2001 Captain - June 14, 2003 Major - April 1, 2009 Lieutenant Colonel - Oct. 1, 2014 Colonel - Sept. 1, 2020 (Current as of July 2025)