Brigadier General Richard Wharton
20th White Sands Missile Range Commander
11 July 1991 – 24 June 1994
Brigadier General Richard W. Wharton, the 20th Commander of White Sands Missile Range, was a graduate of the College of William and Mary and 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 in 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. Brigadier General Richard W. Wharton was appointed Commanding General of White Sands Missile Range on 11 July 1991.
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.