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Brigadier General Richard W. Wharton, the 20th
Commander of White Sands Proving Ground/Missile Range, was a graduate of the
College of William and Mary, received his commission as a Second Lieutenant in
the Field Artillery following his graduation from Officer Candidate School in
October 1963. He later earned a Master's Degree in Human Relations from the
University of Oklahoma. His military education includes the Field Artillery
Officer Basic and Advanced Courses, the Armed Forces Staff College, and the
National War College.
Brigadier General Wharton's early assignments include
Executive Officer, Operational Detachment A, 5th Special Forces Group
(Airborne) at both Fort Bragg, North Carolina and the Republic of South
Vietnam; Organization Officer, G-3 (Operations), XVIII Airborne Corps, Fort
Bragg, North Carolina; Commander, Battery C, 2nd Battalion, 321st Field
Artillery, 82nd Airborne Division, Fort Bragg, North Carolina and the Republic
of South Vietnam; following command, Brigadier General Wharton remained in the
Republic of South Vietnam as the Operations Officer, 2nd Battalion, 321st
Field Artillery.
In 1971, Brigadier General Wharton served as Executive
Officer, 1st Battalion, 2nd Field Artillery, 8th Infantry Division, the
Federal Republic of Germany. He next served as the Secretary of the General
Staff, U.S. Army Field Artillery Center, Fort Sill, Oklahoma, as Staff
Officer, Firepower Division, Deputy Chief of Staff for Operations and Plans,
Department of the Army and commanded the 2nd Battalion, 321st Field Artillery,
82nd Airborne Division, Fort Bragg, North Carolina.
In 1980, Brigadier General Wharton served as Chief,
Fire Support, 82nd Airborne Division, Fort Bragg, North Carolina. He then
served as Chief, Field Artillery Branch, Fire Support Directorate and
Director, Studies and Analyses, U.S. Army Training and Doctrine Command, Fort
Monroe, Virginia. Brigadier General Wharton commanded the Division Artillery,
82nd Airborne Division, Fort Bragg, North Carolina from 1985 to 1987.
Following command, Brigadier General Wharton served as
Director, Combat Developments, U.S. Army Field Artillery School, Fort Sill,
Oklahoma. He then served as Assistant Deputy Director of Defense Research and
Engineering for Tactical Warfare Programs, Office of the Secretary of Defense,
Washington, D.C. Since 11 July 1991, Brigadier General Richard W. Wharton has
commanded the U.S. Army White Sands Missile Range.
Brigadier General Wharton's decorations and badges
include: the Defense Distinguished Service Medal, the Legion of Merit, the
Bronze Star Medal, the Meritorious Service Medal, the Air Medal, the Army
Commendation Medal, the Combat Infantryman's Badge, and the Master Parachutist
Badge.
Brigadier General Wharton is married to the former Rita
Loscialo of Long Island, New York. They have three children – Elizabeth,
Richard, and Lisa.
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