Staff
May 28, 2025
General Richard Morales (retired) joins STSI Science Board to move Systems Thinking forward
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Systems Thinking Standards Institute Appoints Dr. Rich Morales to Science Board
May 28, 2025 — The Systems Thinking Standards Institute (STSI) is honored to announce the appointment of Dr. Rich Morales to its Science Board. Dr. Morales brings a distinguished career spanning military leadership, academic scholarship, and systems engineering expertise to the interdisciplinary body responsible for shaping the Global Systems Thinking Standard (STS®).
Currently serving as Professor of the Practice in Brown University’s School of Engineering, Dr. Morales specializes in innovation management and design engineering. He teaches courses in systems thinking, decision-making, and technology leadership, drawing upon a rich background that includes a Ph.D. in engineering from the University of Cambridge, an M.B.A. from the Yale School of Management, and a B.S. in aerospace engineering from the United States Military Academy at West Point.
A retired U.S. Army Brigadier General, Dr. Morales served in a range of operational and strategic roles across the globe, including commanding units in UN peacekeeping missions and serving as an aide to the head of NASA. He also served in senior advisory roles under three U.S. Presidents, including as a White House Fellow and contributor to national security and innovation policy. He was awarded the Purple Heart for wounds sustained in combat and went on to lead the Department of Systems Engineering at West Point, shaping the next generation of systems leaders.
Dr. Morales’s research focuses on systems analysis and integration, organizational design, and value co-creation. His multidisciplinary approach to complex problem-solving aligns with STSI’s mission to develop and refine standards that are both scientifically rigorous and globally relevant.
“Dr. Morales’s career exemplifies systems leadership at the highest level—from the battlefield to the classroom,” said Dr. Derek Cabrera, Founder of STSI. “His insight, intellect, and lived experience are invaluable to our mission.”
At STSI, Dr. Morales will collaborate with fellow scientists and practitioners to ensure the Global Systems Thinking Standard (STS®) is empirically grounded, practically useful, and globally scalable.
For more information about STSI and its initiatives, visit www.stsi.pro.