Richard Brendan Higgins
Richard Brendan Higgins KC*HS, USAF (ret) (born February 22, 1944) is an Irish-born American bishop of the Roman Catholic Church. Higgins served as an auxiliary bishop of the Archdiocese for the Military Services, USA from 2004 to 2020. Biography. Early life. Higgins was born in Longford, County Longford, Ireland. He studied for the priesthood at the Pontifical Irish College in Rome, attending the Pontifical Lateran University. Priesthood. On March 9, 1968, Higgins was ordained a priest for the Diocese of Sacramento at the Basilica of St. John Lateran in Rome. After arriving in California, Higgins served  pastoral assignments in Roseville, California, and Grass Valley, California. In September 1974, Higgins joined the United States Air Force Chaplain Corps. His assignments as chaplain included: Higgins's postings also included the Air Command and Staff College in Alabama, the United States Air Force Academy in Colorado, Headquarters United States Air Forces Europe in Germany, and Headquarters Pacific Air Forces in Hawaii. While serving in the USAF, Higgins was awarded an Airline Transport Pilot Certificate and several Flight Instructor Certificates. In 1997, Pope John Paul II named Higgins an honorary prelate of his holiness, with the title of monsignor. Auxiliary  Bishop of the Military Services, USA. On May 7, 2004, John Paul II appointed Higgins as an auxiliary bishop of the Archdiocese of the Military Services, USA and as titular bishop of Casae Calanae. He was consecrated on July 3, 2004, at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington, D.C. His principal consecrator was Archbishop Edwin O'Brien; his co-consecrators were Bishop Howard Hubbard and Bishop William Weigand. On September 1, 2004, Higgins retired from the US Air Force with the rank of colonel. His military decorations include the Legion of Merit with one oak  leaf cluster and the Air Force Meritorious Service Medal with seven oak leaf clusters. Retirement as bishop. On January 2, 2020, Pope Francis accepted Higgins's resignation as auxiliary bishop of the Archdiocese of the Military Services, USA, which he submitted upon reaching the age of 75 as required by canon law.