Colonel Richard Sudder is the Army National Guard Senior Policy Advisor to the Chairman of the Reserve Forces Policy Board (RFPB) in the Office of the Secretary of Defense, Washington DC. The Reserve Forces Policy Board serves as an independent adviser to the Secretary of Defense, providing advice and recommendations to the Secretary on strategies, policies, and practices designed to improve and enhance the capabilities, efficiency and effectiveness of the seven Reserve components. He also serves as a policy analyst for the Board’s Homeland and Personnel Subcommittees.

COL Sudder entered the U.S. Army in 2000 as a Judge Advocate and was assigned to the XVIII Airborne Corps, Office of the Staff Judge Advocate. Immediately after 9/11, he was deployed to the Pentagon as a legal advisor to the Defense Coordinating Officer cell to the Federal Emergency Management Agency during the Pentagon search and recovery. Thereafter, then-CPT Sudder deployed in 2002 in support of Operation Enduring Freedom to Uzbekistan and Afghanistan. Most recently, from January to June 2021, COL Sudder served as the Joint Task Force Staff Judge Advocate for the JTF-District of Colombia during Operations Capitol Response I and II, 59th Presidential Inauguration, and the 2021 Joint Session of the U.S. Congress. His prior assignments include: Judge Advocate in the XVIII Airborne Corps, Trial Defense Attorney in the 82nd Airborne Division, Trial Attorney in the United States Army Legal Services Agency, Contract Law Branch Chief in the National Guard Bureau Legal Support Office (NGB-LSO) District of Columbia National Guard (DCNG), Operational Law Branch Chief and Executive Officer, as well as the Deputy Commander and the Commander of the NGB-LSO.

COL Sudder’s military training and education include Airborne School, Judge Advocate Officer Basic Course, Judge Advocate Officer Advance Course, Command and General Staff College – Intermediate Level Education, Department of Defense Support of Civil Authorities, DoD Joint Inspector General Course, and Federal Emergency Management Agency Emergency Preparedness. COL Sudder received a Master in Strategic Studies and was a Distinguished Graduate from the U.S. Army War College in 2019. He received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Finance from Florida State University and his Juris Doctorate degree from University of Miami. His awards and decorations include the Meritorious Service Medal 2nd Award, Army Commendation Medal 6th Award, Joint Service Achievement Medal, Air Achievement Medal, Parachutist Badge and German Federal Armed Forces Proficiency Badge (Gold). COL Sudder was awarded The Judge Advocates Association 2017 Outstanding Career Judge Advocate Award, Army National Guard.

In his civilian professional capacity, he is an Associate General Counsel with the Office of Inspector General, Department of Defense.

(As of July 2021)