Summary
Chaplain (Major General) Cecil Roland Richardson, USAF (born c. 1947), retired as the 16th Chief of Chaplains of the United States Air Force, effective June 1, 2012,[2] with an official retirement ceremony on May 30, 2012.[3] He was appointed to that assignment on May 28, 2008.[2][4]
Cecil R. Richardson | |
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| Born | 1947 or 1948 (age 75–76)[1] West Virginia, United States |
| Allegiance |  United States of America |
| Service/ |  United States Air Force |
| Years of service | 1966–1970 (enlisted) 1977–2012 |
| Rank |  Major General |
| Awards |  Air Force Distinguished Service Medal (2) Defense Superior Service Medal (2) Legion of Merit |
Richardson, a member of the Assemblies of God, was the first Pentecostal minister to be promoted to flag officer rank in the U.S. Air Force.[5] He has said that his role was to be "a pastor to Christians, and a chaplain to all."[6]
Early military career edit
Before ordination, Richardson served in the Air Force as an enlisted man, working as a Russian interpreter and intercept operator.[2]
Education edit
Richardson's educational background includes:[2]
- 1973 Bachelor of Arts degree in Biblical studies, Evangel University, Springfield, Mo.
- 1976 Master of Divinity degree in Hebrew studies, Trinity Evangelical Divinity School, Deerfield, Ill.
- 1981 Squadron Officer School, by correspondence
- 1988 Air Command and Staff College, by correspondence
- 1992 Air War College, by seminar
Assignments edit
Richardson served as Deputy Air Force Chief of Chaplains from April 2004-May 2008, and began serving as Chief of Chaplains May 2008. Prior to these positions, his assignments included:[2]
Enlisted assignments edit
- June 1966 - May 1967, Russian language student, Syracuse University, N.Y.
- June 1967 - August 1967, electronic intercept student, Goodfellow AFB, Texas
- August 1967 - December 1968, Russian intercept operator, Karamursel Air Base, Turkey
- January 1969 - January 1970, Russian interpreter, National Security Agency, Fort George G. Meade, Md.
Chaplain assignments edit
- April 1977 - June 1980, Protestant chaplain, 314th Tactical Airlift Wing, Little Rock AFB, Ark.
- June 1980 - July 1981, senior Protestant chaplain, 5073rd Air Base Group, Shemya AFB, Alaska
- July 1981 - July 1983, Protestant chaplain, 1606th Air Base Wing, Kirtland AFB, N.M.
- July 1983 - July 1984, Air Staff Training officer, Office of the Chief of Chaplains, Bolling AFB, D.C.
- July 1984 - June 1986, senior Protestant chaplain, 410th Bombardment Wing, K.I. Sawyer AFB, Mich.
- June 1986 - June 1988, installation staff chaplain, 7276th Air Base Group, Iraklion Air Station, Greece
- June 1988 - July 1991, Chief, Education and Professional Development Division, Office of the Command Chaplain, Air Mobility Command, Scott AFB, Ill.
- July 1991 - June 1993, senior chaplain, 62nd Airlift Wing, McChord AFB, Wash.
- June 1993 - August 1995, assignments officer, Office of the Chief of Chaplains, Bolling AFB, D.C.
- August 1995 - February 1997, Executive Director, Armed Forces Chaplains Board, Office of the Under Secretary of Defense, the Pentagon, Washington, D.C.
- February 1997 - June 2000, Command Chaplain, U.S. Central Command, MacDill AFB, Fla.
- July 2000 - June 2003, Command Chaplain, Air Combat Command, Langley AFB, Va.
- July 2003 - April 2004, Director, USAF Chaplain Service Institute, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
Awards and military decorations edit
Among Richardson's numerous military awards and decorations are:[2]
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See also edit
References edit
- ^ "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2016-09-27. Retrieved 2016-09-24.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link) - ^ a b c d e f "Chaplain (Major General) Cecil R. Richardson". Biographies. USAF. Retrieved 2014-06-25.
- ^ USAF news, retrieved August 31, 2012
- ^ Evangel University News- Graduate Promoted to Major General, Named Air Force Chief of Chaplains Archived 2010-07-25 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ chaplaincy.ag.org Archived 2011-01-04 at the Wayback Machine, retrieved May 12, 2011.
- ^ www.maxwell.af.mil Archived 2012-03-16 at the Wayback Machine, retrieved May 12, 2011.
