Major General Albert P. Richards Jr.

Posted on Jan 22, 2025 in HING History, People

Major General Albert P. (Putt) Richards, Jr. is the Mobilization Assistant to the commander, United States Pacific Command (COMUSPACOM). As such he serves as the principal advisor to COMUSPACOM on all reserve forces mobilization matters. The General entered the Air Force in 1967 as a distinguished graduate of the Air Force ROTC program. After graduation from pilot training he completed flying assignments in Vietnam, Thailand, and the United States. He joined the California Air National Guard in 1978, and transferred to the Hawaii Air National Guard in 2000. He has commanded a Fighter Squadron, two Operations Groups, and two Wings and has served at Numbered Air Force, Independent Agency and Major Command Headquarters. General Richards is a Command Pilot and has flown more than 5,500 hours including more than 1200 combat hours in 365 combat missions in Southeast Asia and the Balkans.

EDUCATION:

  • 1967 Bachelor of arts degree in international relations, University of Massachusetts, Amherst
  • 1970 Squadron Officer School, by correspondence
  • 1974 Air Command and Staff College, by correspondence
  • 1974 Industrial College of the Armed Forces, by correspondence
  • 1976 Master of arts degree in personnel management, Pepperdine University, Malibu, Calif.
  • 2003 Program for Senior Executives on National and International Security, Harvard University, John F. Kennedy School of Government

ASSIGNMENTS:

  1. June 1967 – June 1968, student, undergraduate pilot training, 3640th Pilot Training Wing, Laredo Air Force Base, Texas
  2. July 1968 – May 1969, F4E pilot, Combat Crew Training, 436th Tactical Fighter Squadron, Homestead Air Force Base, Fla.
  3. May 1969 – August 1970, F4E pilot, 560th Tactical Fighter Squadron, Homestead Air Force Base, Fla.
  4. August 1970 – November 1970, OV-10 Combat Crew Training, Hurlburt Field, Fla.
  5. November 1970 – January 1971, OV-10 forward air controller, 3rd Brigade, 1st Calvary Division, Xuan Loc Republic of Vietnam
  6. January 1971 – November 1971, OV-10 instructor pilot, III DASC TASK FORCE, Bien Hoa Air Base, Republic of Vietnam
  7. November 1971 – April 1972, F4D pilot, 8th Tactical Fighter Squadron, Holloman Air Force Base, N.M.
  8. April 1972 – November 1972, F4D pilot, 8th Tactical Fighter Squadron, Takhli Royal Thai Air Force Base, Thailand
  9. November 1972 – July 1973, F4D instructor pilot, 8th Tactical Fighter Squadron, Holloman Air Force Base, N.M.
  10. July 1973 – January 1974, aide to the commander, 12th Air Force, Bergstrom Air Force Base, Texas
  11. January 1974 – August 1974, aide to the commander, Air Force Operational Test and Evaluation Center, Kirtland Air Force Base, N.M.
  12. August 1974 – September 1975, flight commander, F4D instructor pilot, 417th Tactical Fighter Squadron, Holloman Air Force Base, N.M.
  13. September 1975 – September 1976, chief F4 standardization/evaluation, 49th Tactical Fighter Wing, Holloman Air Force Base, N.M.
  14. September 1976 – October 1978, chief, special fighter assignments branch, Headquarters Tactical Air Command, Langley Air Force Base, Va.
  15. October 1978 – November 1983, forward air controller, O2-A, 196th Tactical Air Support Squadron, Ontario Air National Guard Base, Calif.
  16. November 1983 – May 1987, F4C/E instructor pilot, operations officer, 196th Tactical Fighter Squadron, California Air National Guard, March Air Force Base, Calif.
  17. May 1987 – April 1989, flight commander, 196th Tactical Fighter Squadron, March Air Force Base, Calif.
  18. April 1989 – July 1990, commander, 196th Tactical Fighter Squadron, March Air Force Base, Calif.
  19. July 1990 – June 1992, deputy commander for operations, 163rd Reconnaissance Group, March Air Force Base, Calif.
  20. June 1992 – June 1995, operations group commander, 163rd Operations Group, March Air Force Base, Calif.
  21. June 1995 – September 1996, vice commander, 163rd Air Refueling Wing, March Air Reserve Base, Calif.
  22. September 1996 – September 2000, commander, 163rd Air Refueling Wing, March Air Reserve Base, Calif.
  23. September 2000 – September 2003, commander, 154th Wing, Hawaii Air National Guard, Hickam Air Force Base, Hawaii
  24. Oct 2003 – present, Mobilization assistant to the commander, United States Pacific Command, Camp Smith Hawaii

FLIGHT INFORMATION:

  • Rating: Command pilot
  • Flight hours: More than 5,500
  • Aircraft flown: T-41, T-37, T-38, F4C, F4D, F4E, RF4C, OV-10, O2A, T-39, KC-135, C-130, F-15
  • Pilot wings from: Laredo Air Force Base, Texas

MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS:

  • Legion of Merit with oak leaf cluster
  • Distinguished Flying Cross with oak leaf cluster
  • Bronze Star Medal
  • Purple Heart
  • Meritorious Service Medal
  • Air Medal with seventeen oak leaf clusters
  • Air Force Commendation Medal with two oak leaf clusters
  • Air Force Presidential Unit Citation with one oak leaf cluster
  • Air Force Outstanding Unit Award with two oak leaf clusters
  • Combat Readiness Medal with four oak leaf clusters
  • National Defense Service Medal with one oak leaf cluster
  • Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal
  • Vietnam Service Medal with four oak leaf clusters
  • Air Force Overseas Service Ribbon – Short Tour
  • Air Force Longevity Service Award with six oak leaf clusters
  • Armed Forces Reserve Medal with one oak leaf cluster
  • Small Arms Expert Marksmanship Ribbon
  • Air Force Training Ribbon
  • Vietnam Gallantry cross with palm
  • NATO Service Medal
  • Vietnam Campaign Medal

OTHER ACHIEVEMENTS:

  • 1958 – Eagle Scout
  • 1967 – Distinguished Graduate, Air Force ROTC, University of Massachusetts
  • 1997 – 1999 Air Mobility Command Reserve Forces Policy Council
  • 1998 – 2003 Air Directors Field Advisory Council
  • 1999 – I.G. Brown Command Excellence Award
  • 2000 – 2003 Chair, Air National Guard KC-135 Weapons System Council

EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION:

  • Second Lieutenant Jun 4, 1967
  • First Lieutenant Dec 7, 1968
  • Captain Jun 7, 1970
  • Major Jun 2, 1981
  • Lieutenant Colonel Oct 8, 1985
  • Colonel May 2, 1992
  • Brigadier General Sep 9, 2000
  • Major General Feb 13, 2004

(Current as of May 2004)