Dr. Richard Tilley is an Adjunct Professor at the College of International Security Affairs (CISA), National Defense University, in Washington, DC. Richard also directs the Joint Staff’s Office of Irregular Warfare & Competition and is the principal advisor to the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff concerning the Joint Force’s ability to wage irregular war and to sustain campaigns of strategic competition against our adversaries.
Prior to joining the Joint Staff in 2021, Richard served as a national security advisor within the Office of the Secretary of Defense and the United States House of Representatives. During his career in the United States Army, Richard earned his Green Beret and deployed overseas primarily within the Special Forces community.
Richard holds a doctoral degree in international affairs from the Johns Hopkins University School of Advanced International Studies where his research focused upon Irregular Adaptation: Evaluating Warfighting Performance in Vietnam and Afghanistan and Optimizing the United States for Future Conflict. Richard also earned a bachelor’s degree in history from Wake Forest University where commissioned through the ROTC program. He and his wife, Dr. Laura Tilley, live and Washington D.C. with their two children.