Army Reserve Maj. Gen. Ricky Waddell will be the White House's deputy national security adviser once K.T. McFarland vacates the role, according to Politico.
Waddell will be second-in-command to Lt. Gen. H.R. McMaster on the National Security Council, the news site reported.
The major general has commanded the 76th Operational Response Command in Utah since October 2015. The command includes two chemical brigades, a chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear response task force, 13 elements that support combatant commands and Defense Department agencies, and emergency preparedness liaison officers for all 50 states and three territories.
Waddell has served as the director for European Security Affairs on the National Security Council, according to his military bio. In his 22-year Army career, about 12 years of those on active duty, he has served as deputy commander for mobilization and reserve affairs for U.S. Southern Command in Florida and in several key staff positions in U.S. Central Command and U.S. Forces-Korea.
He has deployed several times — five times to Iraq and three times to Afghanistan, including commanding Combined Joint Interagency Task Force-Shafafiyat — the same command previously held by McMaster — in Afghanistan's capital of Kabul.
In his civilian career, Waddell ran the Keystone, Capstone, and Pinnacle programs as a Defense Department civilian at the National Defense University in Washington, D.C. He previously spent 17 years working in South America, where, among other positions, he was the managing director for South America for oil and gas company BG Group. He was also chief executive officer of mining company Anglo Ferrous Brazil, which was building the largest integrated mining project in the world.
Waddell is a 1982 West Point graduate who has graduate degrees from Oxford University as a Rhodes Scholar, and Webster University. He earned a PhD in international relations from Columbia University. He has also published four historical military books, drawing from his experiences in Latin America and the Army, according to his Army Reserve bio.
Waddell will replace McFarland as she steps down to serve as ambassador to Singapore. McFarland was hired by President Trump's first national security adviser, retired Lt. Gen. Michael Flynn. McFarland will stay on to help Waddell transition into the new role until she leaves for Singapore later this year, according to Politico.
Flynn resigned after he acknowledged that he hadn't fully disclosed conversations he had with Russian Ambassador Sergey Kislyak.
Trump appointed McMaster, an Army lieutenant general, as the new adviser in February.
Army Reserve Command officials referred all questions to the White House.
Charlsy Panzino covers the Guard and Reserve, training, technology, operations and features for Army Times and Air Force Times. Email her at cpanzino@militarytimes.com.
Charlsy is a Reporter and Engagement Manager for Military Times. Email her at cpanzino@militarytimes.com.
