Background
Blanton, Richard Lewis was born on July 23, 1955 in Meridian, Mississippi, United States.
Blanton, Richard Lewis was born on July 23, 1955 in Meridian, Mississippi, United States.
Student, Meridian Junior College, 1973-1974; Bachelor of Science in Aerospace Engineering, Mississippi State University, 1978; postgraduate, University of Southern California, 1982-1983; postgraduate, Florida Institute Technology, since 1984.
Second in command Lieutenant, Air Force Reserve Officers Training Corps, 1974; advanced through grades to captain, United States Air Force, 1978; engineer system operations section measurement system division, United States Air Force, Kennedy Space Center, Florida, 1974-1977; navigator trainee squadron 450/451, United States Air Force, Mather Air Force Base, California, 1979; payload test controller, United States Air Force, Vandenberg Air Force Base, California, 1979-1981; flight test integrated manager, launch controller Ballistic Payloads division, United States Air Force, Vandenberg Air Force Base, California, 1981-1983; space shuttle test director, United States Air Force, Kennedy Space Center, Florida, 1983-1984; space shuttle test director, United States Air Force, Vandenberg Air Force Base, 1984-1986; program superintendent manager western test range Aerospace Test Management Branch WSMC, United States Air Force, Vandenberg Air Force Base, since 1986.
Cadet commander, Civil Air Patrol, Vandenberg Air Force Base, 1978-1979, administration officer, 1980-1981, squadron commander, 1981-1983. Member American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics, Civil Air Patrol, Air Force Association, Company Grade Officer's Council, Arnold Air Society Alumni, Air Force History Foundation, The Planetary Society, Aerospace Education Association.