Background
Richards, Thomas Carl was born on February 13, 1930 in San Diego, California, United States.
governmental official air force officer
Richards, Thomas Carl was born on February 13, 1930 in San Diego, California, United States.
Bachelor of Science, Virginia Polytechnic Institute, 1956; Master of Arts, Shippensburg State College, 1973.
Commissioned First lieutenant, United States Air Force, 1958; advanced through grades to general, 1986; pilot 524th bombardment squadron, Homestead Air Force Base, Florida co-pilot B-47, 659th bombardment squadron, Homestead Air Force Base aircraft commander B-47, 32nd and 352nd bombardment squadrons, Lockbourne Air Force Base, Ohio., 1961-1964; aircraft commander B-52, 20th bombardment squadron, Barksdale Air Force Base, Louisiana, 1964-1965; aircraft commander B-52, 20th bombardment squadron, Carswell Air Force Base, Texas, 1965-1967; forward air controller, Bien Hoa Air Base, Republic of Vietnam, 1967-1968; forward air controller 56th commando wing and 56th special operations wing, Udorn Royal Thai Air Force Base, Thailand, 1968-1969; Executive officer, United States Air Force Academy, Colorado air officer commanding cadet squadron, United States Air Force Academy group air officer, United States Air Force Academy vice commandant of cadets, United States Air Force Academy, 1977-1978; commandant of cadets, United States Air Force Academy, 1978-1981; wing deputy commander, later commander, Basic. Military Training School, Lackland Air Force Base, Texas, 1973-1975; chief motivation and communications branch, directorate of personnel plans, Office of Deputy Chief of Staff for Personnel, Headquarters United States Air Force, Washington, 1975-1976; chief leadership and motivation division, Office of Deputy Chief of Staff for Personnel, Headquarters United States Air Force, 1976; commander, Headquarters Air Reserve Personnel Center, Denver, 1976-1977; commander United States Air Force recruiting service, deputy chief of staff recruiting air training command, Randolph Air Force Base, Texas, 1981-1982; commander, Keesler Technology Training Center, Air Training Command, Keesler Air Force Base, Mississippi, 1982-1983; vice commander 8th Air Force strategic air command, Barksdale Air Force Base, Louisiana, 1983-1984; commander, Air U., Maxwell Air Force Base, Alabama, 1984-1986; deputy commander, chief, United States European Command, Stuttgart, Germany, 1986-1989; administrator, Federal Aviation Administration, Washington, District of Columbia, since 1992.
Commissioner Aviation Security and Terrorism Commission, 1989-1990.
Married Meredyth Sweda.