Ricky L. Waddell

On 12 April 2018, the White House announced that Waddell would leave in the coming weeks. His departure happened shortly after John R. Bolton's appointment as National Security Advisor. Waddell was one of several officials who left at Bolton's request.

In early May 2017, Waddell was reportedly named as the White House’s Deputy National Security Adviser, following K. T. McFarland, to serve under Lieutenant General H. R. McMaster, National Security Adviser. Waddell's appointment was blocked, initially, by White House Chief of Staff, Reince Priebus. The announcement was made official on 19 May 2017.

He became an Engineer Officer with 15th Engineer Battalion, then the 9th Infantry Division as a Platoon Leader and Battalion Maintenance Officer. With Joint Task Force Bravo at Soto Cano (Palmerola) Air Base, Comayagua, Honduras, he served as the JTF Engineer. In the 35th Engineer Battalion, he served as the Commander C Company. He returned to the United States Military Academy as an instructor in the Department of Social Sciences. He subsequently served as Director for European Security Affairs on the National Security Council.

Waddell attended the United States Military Academy, graduating in 1982 with a degree of Bachelor of Science.

Ricky Lynn Waddell (born 31 October 1959) is a Lieutenant General in the United States Army Reserve who served for a year during 2017–2018 as a Deputy National Security Adviser to U.S. President Donald Trump. Waddell currently serves as the Assistant to the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. His promotion to lieutenant general was authorized by the U.S. Senate on 26 September 2019.