Cecil R. Richardson

Cecil R. Richardson
Major General Cecil R. Richardson 16th Chief of Chaplains of the United States Air Force
Allegiance	United States of America
Service/branch	United States Air Force
Years of service	1966 - present
Rank	Major General
Awards	Distinguished Service Medal Def. Superior Service Medal Legion of Merit

Chaplain (Major General) Cecil R. Richardson, USAF is the 16^th and current Chief of Chaplains of the United States Air Force. He was appointed to this assignment on May 28, 2008.^[1][2]

Richardson, a member of the Assemblies of God, is the first Pentecostal minister to be promoted to flag officer rank in the U.S. Air Force.^[3] He has said that his role is to be "a pastor to Christians, and a chaplain to all."^[4]

Contents 1 Early military career 2 Education 3 Assignments 3.1 Enlisted assignments 3.2 Chaplain assignments 4 Awards and military decorations 5 See also 6 References

Early military career

Before ordination, Richardson served in the Air Force as an enlisted man, working as a Russian interpreter and intercept operator.^[5]

Education

According to Richardson's official Air Force bio, his educational background includes:^[5]

• 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

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:^[5]

Enlisted assignments

• 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

• 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

Among Richardson's numerous military awards and decorations are:^[5] Distinguished Service Medal

• Defense Superior Service Medal with oak leaf cluster
• Legion of Merit
• Defense Meritorious Service Medal
• Meritorious Service Medal with silver and bronze oak leaf clusters
• Air Force Commendation Medal with oak leaf cluster
• Joint Meritorious Unit Award with oak leaf cluster
• Air Force Organizational Excellence Award
• Air Force Good Conduct Medal
• National Defense Service Medal with two bronze stars
• Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal
• Humanitarian Service Medal
• Air Force Overseas Ribbon - Short with oak leaf cluster
• Air Force Overseas Ribbon - Long
• Air Force Longevity Service Award Ribbon with silver oak leaf cluster
• Small Arms Expert Marksmanship Ribbon
• Air Force Training Ribbon with oak leaf cluster

See also

• Chiefs of Chaplains of the United States
• Armed Forces Chaplains Board

References

Military offices
Preceded by Charles C. Baldwin	Chief of Chaplains of the United States Air Force 2008 – Present	Succeeded by Incumbent

United States Air Force Leadership Secretary of the Air Force Under Secretary of the Air Force Chief of Staff Vice Chief of Staff Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force 4-star generals House Armed Services Committee House Subcommittee on Air and Land Forces Senate Committee on Armed Services Senate Subcommittee on Air and Land Forces Organization Commands Reserve Air National Guard Field Operating Agencies Installations Direct Reporting Units District of Washington Operational Test and Evaluation Center USAF Academy Major Commands Air Combat Air Education and Training Air Mobility Global Strike Materiel Reserve Space Special Operations Europe Pacific Numbered Air Forces First Second Third Fourth Fifth Seventh Eighth Ninth Tenth Eleventh Twelfth Thirteenth Fourteenth Seventeenth Eighteenth Nineteenth Twentieth Twenty-Second Twenty-Third Twenty-Fourth Wings (ANG) Groups (ANG) Squadrons (ANG) Civilian auxiliary: Civil Air Patrol Personnel and training Airmen Rank Officers Enlisted Specialty Code Aeronautical ratings Judge Advocate General's Corps RED HORSE Office of Special Investigations Security Forces Medical Service Pararescue Combat Control Chief of Chaplains Chief Scientist Training: USAF Academy Officer Training School Reserve Officer Training Corps Basic Training Airman Leadership School SERE Fitness Test Uniforms and equipment Awards and decorations Badges Equipment Uniforms History and traditions History Army Air Service / Corps / Forces "The U.S. Air Force" Air Force Band The Airmen of Note Tops In Blue Airman's Creed Core Values Flag Symbol Memorial National Museum Air Force One Honor Guard Thunderbirds Service numbers Category Portal

Chiefs of Chaplains of the United States Chiefs of Chaplains Major General Donald Rutherford (Army) • Rear Admiral Mark Tidd (Navy) • Major General Cecil Richardson (Air Force) Senior USMC/USCG Chaplains (working under USN Chief of Chaplains) Rear Admiral Margaret Kibben (Chaplain of the United States Marine Corps, and Deputy Chief of Chaplains of the U.S. Navy) • Captain Gary Weeden (Chaplain of the Coast Guard)

Armed Forces Chaplains Board Chiefs of Chaplains (members) MG Douglas L. Carver (USA Chief of Chaplains) RADM Mark L. Tidd (USN Chief of Chaplains) Maj Gen Cecil R. Richardson (USAF Chief of Chaplains) Deputy Chiefs of Chaplains (members) BG Donald L. Rutherford (USA Deputy Chief of Chaplains) RDML Margaret G. Kibben (USN Deputy Chief of Chaplains/ Chaplain of the USMC) Brig Gen Howard D. Stendahl (USAF Deputy Chief of Chaplains) Executive Director (staff) COL Thomas E. Preston (USA Chaplain)

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Name	Richardson, Cecil R.
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