U.S. Army Functional Area 49 :: Operations Research & Systems Analysis (ORSA)

COL Richard Wiles (USA, Ret.)

Inducted: September 2025

Service and Career

Retired from Federal Service in July 1978
1948–1952: Cadet, United States Military Academy
1952–1978: Field Artillery Officer, U.S. Army
1953–1956: Korean War, U.S. Forces Japan (Tokyo, Okinawa)
1956–1960: Schools and Field Artillery units, Fort Sill
1960–1963: HQ U.S. Army Europe Special Troops
1963–1964: U.S. Army Command and General Staff College
1964–1965: Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
1966–1968: Army Information and Data Systems (AIDS) Office, Chief of Staff Army; and Management Information Systems Directorate (MISD), Office of Assistant Vice Chief of Staff Army
1968–1969: Commander, 2d Howitzer Battalion, 9th Field Artillery, 4th Infantry Division; G-3 (Air) and G-3 (Ops), I Field Force Vietnam (IFFV)
1969–1970: Team Leader, ADP Division, SHAPE, NATO
1969–1970: U.S. Army War College
1971–1973: Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
1973–1975: Program Analysis and Evaluation (PA&E), Office of the Assistant Vice Chief of Staff Army
1975–1978: Director, Systems Integration and Analysis, Center for Army Analysis (CAA)
1978–1984: Team Leader, ORI, Inc.
1984–2000: Executive Vice President, Military Operations Research Society (MORS)

Achievements

Began OR career as a special projects officer in AIDS and Executive Officer in MISD; coordinated the reorganization of AIDS to MISD; awarded the Legion of Merit
In Vietnam, commanded the 2d Howitzer Battalion, 9th Field Artillery, providing direct support to the 3d Brigade, 4th Infantry Division; awarded the Bronze Star with “V” device, Purple Heart, and 12 Air Medals
As G-3 (Air), coordinated Air Force and Naval gunfire support to Army units and developed studies on transition of missions to Army of Vietnam units; upon departure awarded the First Oak Leaf Cluster to the Legion of Merit
At SHAPE, initiated preparation of a guide for using ADP to support operations and intelligence in the Operations Center
At CAA, conducted cost-benefit analyses for tilt rotor aircraft, M-60 tank upgrades, the M-1 tank, and the AH-64 helicopter; supported evaluation of Bradley IFV turret configurations; upon retirement awarded the second Oak Leaf Cluster to the Legion of Merit
At ORI, Inc., supported OSD contracts to plan, supervise, and analyze field experiments on light, agile armored vehicles
As Executive VP of MORS, served as the third and longest-serving leader; oversaw classified symposia and workshops, published a refereed journal and books, and was later elected Fellow of the Society (FS)

“His contributions to reliable assessments will have a lasting impact on the field of operational testing both for Army equities and the DoD ORSA community.”