Brigadier General Richard B. Yules is the Air National Guard assistant to the deputy assistant secretary of defense (health services, operations and readiness), Pentagon, Washington, D.C. He serves as the principle liaison, and facilitates coordination of assets and policies between the ANG and the office of the assistant secretary of defense for health affairs. General Yules earned a Bachelor of Science degree in zoology from Yale University in 1962 and a doctor of medicine degree from Yale University in 1966.
Dr. Yules has retired as owner and director of the Haelen Medical Center, a group specialty practice. He is a board-certified otolaryngologist, having completed surgical residences at Stanford and Harvard universities, where he still maintains a faculty position. He is a fellow of the Aerospace Medical Society and has published over fifty manuscripts and chapters, including four books. He sits on the boards of several public and private companies. The general's civic affiliations include participation in thirty professional society memberships, including the National Guard Association of the United States, Military Surgeons of the United States, and the American Medical Association. He was promoted to brigadier general and federally recognized on Aug. 12,1992.
The general's military education includes the Air Command and Staff College, 1979; and the National Security Management Course, 1980. He was commissioned as a captain in March 1970, and was assigned as an aerospace medical physician with the 104th Tactical Clinic, Massachusetts ANG, at Barnes ANG Base, Westfield, Mass. In April 1971, he became commander of the 104th Clinic. He was reassigned as state air surgeon, Headquarters, Massachusetts ANG, Otis ANGB, Mass., in November 1979, and held that position until his selection as ANG assistant to the command surgeon, Air Combat Command in September 1991. He was assigned to his current position December 1996. His military awards and decorations include the Air Force Outstanding Unit Award with one bronze oak leaf cluster, Air Force Organizational Excellence Award, National Defense Service Medal with one Bronze Star, Air Force Longevity Service Award with four bronze oak leaf clusters, Armed Forces Reserve Medal with one hourglass device, Small Arms Expert Marksmanship Ribbon with one bronze star, Air Force Training Ribbon, and the Massachusetts Service Medal with one silver star.