Redirecting...

Former AU commander receives Air Force ROTC Distinguished Alumni award

  • Published
  • By Lisa Warr
  • 42nd Air Base Wing Public Affairs
Former Air University commander retired Gen. Thomas C. Richards was awarded the Air Force ROTC Distinguished Alumni Award during a ceremony at the Officer Training School, June 15, 2015, Maxwell Air Force Base.

Richards received the award for his contributions to the United States Air Force spanning four decades.

"I am honored that we were able to bring Gen. Richards to Maxwell Air Force Base to receive this honor he so greatly deserves," said Col. Eric Wydra, Air Force Reserve Officer Training Corps commander.  "His dedication and service have made lasting contributions to the security of the United States, and he set the example for all our cadets to follow."

Lt. Gen. Steven Kwast, Air University commander, presided over the ceremony, where he encouraged the more than 400 ROTC cadets graduating from field training in the audience to celebrate important moments in time, to boldly move forward and never pass an opportunity to lead.   He also stressed the need for the cadets to study historic figures and learn to repeat their brilliance.

"I read the words of this man (Richards) when he was young and when he was the commander of Air University, and the universal truths that he spoke then are as true today as they ever were," said Kwast.

To be inducted into the distinguished alumni program, two requirements must be achieved.  The recipient must have attained a high level of honorable recognition or distinction for an accomplishment with Air Force-wide, national or international significance; or for historically notable service or combat achievements.

Richards received his commission as a distinguished graduate of the Air Force ROTC program at Virginia Polytechnic Institute in 1956. 

Prior to his commission, Richards began his career with the U.S. Army 24th Infantry in 1948.  He served as a platoon sergeant during the Korean War and was wounded twice.

Richards earned his pilots wings in 1957.  In the early 1960s, as an aircraft commander, he was involved in the first B-52 combat missions over Vietnam.  In the mid-1960s, as a forward air controller and while commanding the Raven Forward Air Controllers, he flew 624 combat missions.  During his Air Force career, Richards accumulated more than 4,700 flying hours.

Richards went on to command many units, to include Basic Military Training School in Texas, the Air Reserve Personnel Center in Denver, the U.S. Air Force Academy in Colorado, the Air Force Recruiting Service in Texas, Keesler Air Force Base's Technical Training Center in Mississippi, and Air University in Alabama.

Richards concluded his career as the deputy commander in chief, Headquarters U.S. European Command, Stuttgart-Vaihingen, West Germany, retiring in September 1989.

After retirement Richards was appointed by former President George H. Bush to serve as a member of the Commission on Aviation Safety and Security in June 1990.  Then on March 31, 1992, Bush nominated Richards to be the Federal Aviation Administrator.