Richard Smith Beal (1945-1984) was an American college professor and government advisor.

Richard Smith Beal was born November 27, 1945 in Washington, D.C., to George Max Beal and Virginia Smith. He was raised in the Washington, D.C. area and graduated from Northwestern High School in Hyattsville, Maryland, in 1963. From 1966 to 1968, he served a mission to Denmark for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Following his return, he married Ruth Sorenson on January 31, 1969.

He earned bachelor's and master's degrees in political science at Brigham Young University in 1970 and a doctorate in international relations at the University of Southern California in 1977. In 1977 he was a visiting Fulbright Hayes Scholar at Jawaharlal Nehru University in New Delhi, India. From 1978 to 1982 he was an Associate Professor of International Relations and Political Science at Brigham Young University. He also served in the White House as Special Assistant to the President for National Security Affairs. He was the author of five books, many studies, and the recipient of numerous awards. He passed away on November 2, 1984.