Thomas C . Richards Thomas Carl Richards ( born February 13 , 1930 ) is a former General in the United States Air Force and the former chief of staff of the Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe . Biography . Early life . Richards was born on February 13 , 1930 , in San Diego , California . He graduated from Hampton High School , Virginia in 1948 . His military career began with the United States Army infantry in 1948 . He served as a platoon sergeant during the Korean War and was wounded twice . He received a commission as a distinguished graduate of the Air Force Reserve Officer Training Corps program at Virginia Polytechnic Institute in 1956 , where he earned a bachelor of science degree in business administration . Richards entered pilot training and earned his wings at Goodfellow Air Force Base , Texas , in 1957 . After combat crew training he was assigned as a B - 47 Stratojet co - pilot with the Strategic Air Command ' s 19th Bombardment Wing , Homestead Air Force Base , Florida , from December 1958 to February 1961 . He was upgraded to B - 47E Stratojet commander at Little Rock Air Force Base , Arkansas , before being transferred , in July 1961 , to the 301st Bombardment Wing at Lockbourne Air Force Base , Ohio . He completed Squadron Officer School in 1963 and received B - 52 Stratofortress combat crew training at Castle Air Force Base , California , from May to August 1964 . His next assignments were to the 20th Bombardment Squadron at Barksdale Air Force Base , Louisiana , and later to Carswell Air Force Base , Texas . During this period he was an aircraft commander on the first B - 52 combat missions over Vietnam . Later career . After completing tactical combat crew training and airborne training in October 1966 , Richards was assigned to the 19th Tactical Air Support Squadron at Bien Hoa Air Base , Republic of Vietnam , as a forward air controller with the 101st Airborne Division . He served a consecutive tour of duty with the 56th Air Commando Wing at Udorn Royal Thai Air Force Base , Thailand , with detached service at the U . S . Embassy , Vientiane Laos . In addition , he commanded the Raven Forward Air Controllers and flew 624 combat missions in O - 1 Bird Dog s , T - 28 Trojan s , U - 10D Super Courier s and U - 17 Skywagon s . In January 1969 he returned to the United States and was assigned to the United States Air Force Academy , Colorado , where he served as an executive officer , squadron air officer commanding and group air officer commanding until May 1972 . He then attended the Army War College , graduating in 1973 . The general transferred to Lackland Air Force Base , Texas , in June 1973 as wing deputy commander , and then served as commander of the Basic Military Training School . That same year , he received a master ' s degree in communication from Shippensburg State College . In July 1975 he was assigned to the Directorate of Personnel Plans , Office of the Deputy Chief of Staff for Personnel , Headquarters United States Air Force , Washington D . C . , as chief of the Motivation and Communications Branch and , later , became chief of the Leadership and Motivation Division . From November 1976 to December 1977 , Richards served as commander of the Air Reserve Personnel Center at Denver . He then returned to the academy as vice commandant of cadets and became commandant of cadets in March 1978 . General Richards assumed command of the Air Force Recruiting Service at Randolph Air Force Base , Texas , in February 1981 . In March 1982 Richards transferred to Keesler Air Force Base , Mississippi , as commander of the Keesler Technical Training Center . From September 1983 to July 1984 he was assigned as Commander , 8th Air Force , Barksdale Air Force Base , Louisiana . He then became commander of Air University , Maxwell Air Force Base , Alabama . He assumed his present position in November 1986 . He was promoted to general Dec . 1 , 1986 , with same date of rank . He retired on September 30 , 1989 After his retirement , he was appointed as the administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration . Awards . Awards earned during his career :