“I am a vessel being used by God,” said Diddams, 58, the son and grandson of missionaries and church planters. In his current role overseeing operations at both CERE - the School of Engineering’s lab and small-scale testing facility in Forest - and Liberty’s Career Services center, Diddams has drawn upon his wealth of industry knowledge. In 2017, he began serving at Liberty, noting that the school’s military friendliness and Purple Heart University designation were factors that led him to consider the job. In 2010, he settled in Forest, Va., and started his own security and engineering firm. soil after 9/11.įollowing decades of courageous service on the front lines and working as a government contractor in Afghanistan, Diddams expanded his civilian career, serving as vice president for several large engineering firms and as Chief of Staff for Halliburton’s overseas operations in the Middle East and Central Asia.

Bush that helped prevent further attacks on U.S. Condoleezza Rice in developing bi-weekly Situation Terrorist Activity Reports (STAR) for President George W. As a counterterrorism senior advisor and analyst in Iraq from 2002-04, he assisted National Security Advisor Dr. In 1997-98, Diddams served as mission commander for the United States’ largest counterdrug operation involving drugs smuggled from South America, simultaneously coordinating and advising national assets overseas involved with extremist hostage rescues. “God was with me,” said Diddams, who received both a Purple Heart and a Bronze Star with a “V” for valor on the same tour of duty in Operation Iraqi Freedom in 2003 - after being shot by insurgents who invaded his camp and later fending off others who ambushed his convoy along the Tigris River. Marine Corps, rising to the rank of lieutenant colonel before retiring in 2006. He served in more than 50 countries throughout a decorated 20-year career in the U.S. Rich Diddams fought drug lords in South America and terrorists in the Middle East.

Rich Diddams has served as executive director of Liberty University’s Center for Engineering Research & Education (CERE) in nearby Forest, Va., since 2017.īefore becoming executive director of Liberty University’s Center for Engineering Research & Education (CERE), Dr.

Liberty township hostage