Prof teaches from military experience

Leaning over the podium, bespectacled eyes scanning his small but alert class, adjunct Professor of history and political science Richard Armstrong declares, “Leadership is the ability to rise above conventional wisdom.”

It is as much a statement about himself as anything else, a man who refuses to fit the mold of the stereotypical college professor.

Though an accomplished author and scholar, he speaks as a weathered veteran of the world. An ex-Army intelligence officer, he has done things and been places most people only dream about.

Not surprisingly, teaching was the last thing on Armstrong's mind when choosing a career.

“I was an Air Force brat,” he said. “My father was in the Air Force, so consequently I thought, 'I'll go into the military.'”

Though he aspired to fly for the Air Force, near-sightedness made him ineligible. He chose the Army instead.

Armstrong enrolled in Army ROTC at West Virginia University and soon felt drawn to Army Intelligence.

“I liked history and political science, so I thought they would apply to military intelligence,” he said.

With that, Armstrong began a 26-year career in military intelligence. Initially he operated against the North Vietnamese and Viet Cong in South Vietnam, and after his tour of duty, he was stationed in Europe where he analyzed intelligence reports on Europe, Middle East and North Africa for indications of hostilities.

Armstrong was the first intelligence officer to pass on early warning signs of the 1973 Yom-Kippur War, when Syria and Egypt launched a surprise attack on Israel. 

“I had a ring-side seat to all the intelligence coming out of that area, so I kind of consider that my war,” Armstrong said.

He became extensively involved in operations against Soviet intelligence agents in West Germany, later holding a number of senior posts at the Pentagon and elsewhere, including command of an Army Intelligence battalion in the Persian Gulf War of 1991.

Armstrong retired from active duty in 1995 as a full colonel, having earned numerous decorations for service in peacetime and war.  

Even before he left the military, he developed into a distinguished scholar, author and historian. He has written four books on the Soviet Red Army and authored countless articles on military history and intelligence in both professional and commercial journals.

In addition, he has published more than 25 book reviews and delivered major presentations from Harvard to NATO to the Pentagon. After retiring from the Army, he worked at Scott and White Hospital for nine years in logistics management.

A desire to share what he had learned led him to teach at UMHB.

“I decided I've got a lot of things I'd like to say about history, my experiences, international relations and security issues,” Armstrong said.

Armstrong draws on his expertise for his International Security Issues class, which analyzes threats to national security from terrorism to infectious disease. His teaching style emphasizes interaction and historical perspective.

“I like to think it's experiential,” Armstrong said. “That's why I emphasize historical case studies and class participation. If students read something and have to talk about it, they'll remember it better.”

Senior history and Christian ministry major Josh Davis is impressed.

“Professor Armstrong is easily one of the best teachers I have had,” Davis said. “He combines practical, real-world experience with teaching through case studies and other resources.”

Junior political science major Jeremy Kee agreed.

He said, “He has actually lived what   he teaches, which makes it much more interesting.”

A voracious reader himself, Arm-strong believes the desire to read is the most important quality for a student.

Looking forward, Armstrong plans to take the road less traveled.

“I could never envision myself sitting on a front porch waiting to die,” he said.

Emphatic that he will never retire completely, Armstrong is preparing to write a five-volume history on the eastern front in World War II.

“I plan to read and think critically until I drop,” Armstrong said.

His students expect nothing less.