Robert Spalding

Robert S. Spalding III (born 1966) is a retired United States Air Force brigadier general. He currently serves as a senior fellow at the Hudson Institute. His work focuses on U.S.–China relations, economic and national security, and the Asia-Pacific military balance.

Early life and education Spalding was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the United States Air Force in 1991 through the Reserve Officer Training Corps while he was studying at Fresno State University, where he earned a bachelor of science degree and a master of science degree in agricultural business, in 1987 and 1993, respectively. This was followed by a Ph.D. in economics and mathematics from University of Missouri in 2007 and a second master of science degree in Strategic Studies from Air War College in Maxwell Air Force Base in Alabama in 2008. Spalding's advocacy was reportedly deemed outside his authority and he was subsequently asked to leave the NSC.

From February 2018, Spalding has been the Special Assistant to the Vice Chief of Staff, U.S. Air Force, at the Pentagon. On the same year, he retired from the military at the rank of brigadier general.

Political career Since his retirement from the military in 2018, he has since been notable as a critic of the Chinese Communist Party.

Spalding served as a board member of We Build the Wall, the fundraising group which saw four of its members, including a former counselor to President Trump, Steve Bannon, indicted on fraud charges on August 20, 2020, “I would like to wait and see what happens. It is the case that we’re presumed innocent until proven guilty,” Spalding told the Guardian when allegations of fraud surfaced. “If it is proven true of course I would be disappointed.” Bannon was later pardoned by Trump, in one of the President's final acts in office, but two members of the group indicted with Bannon pled guilty, while the third was convicted.

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