WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Senator Pat Roberts (R-Kan.), a proud Kansas State University Alumni, today congratulated retired Air Force General and former Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Richard Myers on his appointment to serve as the new President of Kansas State University. The Kansas Board of Regents announced General Myers will become the University’s 14^th President.

“My friend General Richard Myers knows K-State and K-State knows him,” Roberts said. “He brings to K-State unique leadership at a time when all universities are facing tough challenges. As a Kansan, he is invested in offering Kansas students the best possible opportunities to achieve all they can for our state, our nation and the world community. His experiences will bring new vision for students, faculty and staff, while embracing and promoting one of the university’s key goals of furthering research in plant and animal science.

“I look forward to working with him on ways we can continue to enhance educational opportunities for K-State students now and into the future. I commend the search committee for selecting the right person at the right time.”

Myers graduated in 1965 from Kansas State and since his retirement from the Air Force as a four-star general, he has served as part-time Kansas State University Foundation professor of military history and leadership.

Myers served as the 15^th Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff from October of 2001-2005. During this period, Senator Roberts worked closely with General Myers as Chairman of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence and as a senior member of the Senate Armed Services Committee.

Senator Roberts is a member of the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions where reauthorization of the Higher Education Act will be one of the first items of business in the new Congress.