Colonel Richard L. Klass
Colonel Richard L. Klass served in the U.S. Air Force for over 22 years, retiring in 1980. Colonel Klass currently serves as Executive Director for the Veterans’ Alliance for Security and Democracy (VETPAC).
During his military service, Col. Klass served as Assistant for Western Europe and Military Assistant to the Principal Deputy for International Security Affairs and Policy in the Office of the Secretary of Defense. Colonel Klass served in Europe for the U.S. Air Force from 1972 to 1976 after working as a White House Fellow from 1970-1972. As a Forward Air Controller in Vietnam, Colonel Klass logged over 500 combat hours during the course of 200 missions.
Since his retirement from the Air Force, Col. Klass has served as a consultant and held several leadership positions in the private sector, including General Dynamics Corporation, Raytheon Aircraft and kin, inc., as well as the non-profit sector, including as President of the Veterans Institute for Security and Democracy.
Colonel Richard L. Klass a graduate of the USAF Academy (Distinguished Graduate), Oxford University (MA and MLitt) where he was a Rhodes Scholar, and National War College (Distinguished Graduate). His decorations include the Silver Star, Distinguished Flying Cross, Legion of Merit, and Purple Heart. He currently resides in Arlington, Virginia.
KLASS IN THE NEWS
Lord of the Flies
The esteemed executive director of the Council for a Livable World, John Isaacs, has penned a piece noting the similarities between the Republican production of a fiscal year 2011 (FY11) continuing resolution (CR) and the William Golding novel The Lord of the Flies. More »
Aphonse and Gaston and Small Ball
No one can accuse the nation's lawmakers of 2011 of being overly polite or deferential despite a marked, if temporary, decline in political vitriol. So what then is the cause of the failure to get somewhere or do something to address the long-term fiscal crisis (aka entitlements) we face either in the president's fiscal year 2012 (FY12) budget or by the GOP? More »
The Real State of the Union
This is the time of year when pundits suggest words for the president's State of the Union address. Always a chancy venture, it is even more so with this president's oratorical skills. So let us abstain from that. Instead, let us simply address the state of our union and then critique the president after his January 25 presentation. More »
Questions About Questions About New START
Listening to GOP Senators raise questions about the New START agreement raises some questions for the Republican party: More »
The GOP Strategy to Defeat Obama
Senator Mitch McConnell (R-KY) the Senate Minority Leader has set the goal publicly: The top priority of the GOP in the 112th Congress is to deny President Obama a second term. More »
RSS Feed