The Story of a Cryptologic Hero 

S aff Sergeant Richard A. Dickson 

Those who serve supreme causes must not consider what they can get but what they can give. 

Winston Churchill 

Staff Sgt. Richard A. Dickson was a native son of the Golden State of California. Born in the state capital of 

Sacramento in 1988, Richard and his family moved first to the city of Folsom and eventually settled in Rancho 

Cordova. During his time at Cordova High "Richie;' as his friends called him, achieved excellent grades and 

developed a keen interest in technical subjects, particularly computer science. His sister noted that "he never ran 

across a computer he couldn't fix:' 

Greatly influenced by his older brother and brother-in-law, in 2006 Richard enlisted in the United States Air 

Force. After basic training and extensive Korean language training at the Defense Language Institute, he served 

first as an airborne cryptologic language analyst but then cross trained to become an Airborne ISR (Intelligence, 

Surveillance and Reconnaissance) Operator. 

U.S. Air Force ISR Operators help fellow warfighters gain information superiority through a network of 

worldwide ground sites and a wide variety of airborne reconnaissance and surveillance platforms. Richard 

served the ISR mission at Offutt and Beale Air Force bases before being deployed to Afghanistan, with the 36lst 

Expeditionary Reconnaissance Squadron. 

The 36lst, founded in 1943 during World War II, notes that "the group's 

Airmen are qualified to operate as aircrew on almost every aircraft type 

within the United States Air Force Special Operations Command:' As an 

Airborne ISR Operator, Richard certified on a wide range of aircraft with 

the aim of collecting critical information and saving lives. By the time 

he deployed to Afghanistan, he had logged over 1,400 hours of combat 

aviation time and gained a reputation as an expert in his field. 

In addition to his prowess in the air, Richie had a reputation as a fun 

and intelligent person with a wonderful heart and a dry and engaging 

sense of humor. To his friends and, most importantly, his family he was 

someone on whom you could always depend - on duty and off. He was 

liked and respected not only for his personal and professional attributes, 

but he was also revered by his fellow service members in Afghanistan for 

his ability to fix broken Play-Station consoles. 
In the early afternoon of April 27, 2013, Staff Sgt. Dickson and his 

fellow crew members were slated to take off from Kandahar Airfield, 

Afghanistan, to provide ISR support. The mission was expected to last 5 

hours. Approximately 40 minutes after take-off their MC12W "Liberty" 

aircraft encountered inclement weather and stalled. Despite the pilot's 

best efforts to regain air speed, the airplane was unable to maintain 

altitude and crashed northeast of Kandahar Airfield. All aboard were lost. 

During his short but meaningful life Staff Sgt. Richard A. Dickson, 

through the application of his skills and talents, more than lived up to the 

mission of his command by preserving "freedom through vigilance:' His 

was a life dedicated to helping those in harm's way not only to survive but 

to prevail. 

Staff Sgt. Dickson left behind his wife, Lacie, two-year-old daughter, 

Sophie, and a loving mother, brother, and sister. He also left an 

impressive record of service and sacrifice to his nation. For his dedication 

and service accomplishments he received the Bronze Star (posthumous), 

the Air Force Medal with five oak leaf clusters, and the Air Force 

Achievement Medal. For all he achieved and for all he was, he will be 

remembered for his legacy as a son, husband, father, and brother who 

deeply loved his family, his nation, and his work. 

NSA Creative Imaging - 72916 

Staff Sergeant Richard A. Dickson 

07May1988-27 Apr 2013 

Photographs courtesy of the Dickson family 

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MEMORIAL DAY 2014