Brig. Gen. Richard "Ric" Severson is Assistant Vice Commander, Air Force Reserve Command, Robins Air Force Base, Ga. He oversees the headquarters staff and is responsible to the commander and vice commander for all matters affecting the Air Force Reserve unit program.
General Severson is a Brooklyn, Wis., native. He was commissioned in 1972 after completing Officer Training School at Lackland AFB, Texas. The general's operational commands include tactical airlift, rescue, strategic airlift and air refueling organizations. Prior to his current assignment, he was Commander of the 459th Air Refueling Wing at Andrews AFB, Md.
The general is a command pilot with more than 4,000 hours in a variety of aircraft. He was appointed to the Senior Executive Service in May 2005.
EDUCATION
1971 Bachelor's degree in education, University of Wisconsin-LaCrosse
1986 Air Command and Staff College, by seminar
1995 Air War College, by correspondence
ASSIGNMENTS
1. May 1972 - March 1973, student, undergraduate pilot training, Craig AFB, Ala.
2. April 1973 - December 1978, C-130A pilot, 440th Tactical Airlift Squadron, General Mitchell International Airport, Milwaukee, Wis.
3. September 1977 - December 1984, admissions liaison officer, U.S. Air Force Academy, Colorado Springs, Colo.
4. October 1980 - December 1984, staff officer, 440th Tactical Airlift Wing, General Mitchell IAP, Wis.
5. June 1983 - August 1987, C-130A/H instructor and evaluator pilot, 95th Tactical Airlift Squadron, General Mitchell IAP, Wis.
6. September 1987 - May 1990, air reserve technician, instructor and evaluator pilot, 95th Tactical Airlift Squadron, General Mitchell IAP, Wis.
7. June 1990 - May 1993, operations and training officer, 95th Tactical Airlift Squadron, General Mitchell IAP, Wis. (February 1993 - March 1993 mission commander, 440th Composite Wing (Provisional), Dhahran Air Base, Saudi Arabia)
8. May 1993 - August 1996, Commander, 913th Operations Group, Willow Grove Air Reserve Station, Pa.
9. August 1996 - May 1999, Commander, 920th Rescue Group, Patrick AFB, Fla.
10. June 1999 - May 2000, Vice Commander, 459th Airlift Wing, Andrews AFB, Md.
11. June 2000 - September 2003, Commander, 459th Airlift Wing, Andrews AFB, Md.
12. October 2003 - May 2005, Commander, 459th Air Refueling Wing, Andrews AFB, Md.
13. May 2005 - present, Assistant Vice Commander, Headquarters Air Force Reserve Command, Robins AFB, Ga.
FLIGHT INFORMATION
Rating: Command pilot
Flight hours: More than 4,000
Aircraft flown: T-41, T-37, T-38, C-130A/E/H, HC-130N/P, HH-60G, C-141B/C and KC-135R
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Legion of Merit
Meritorious Service Medal with three oak leaf clusters
Aerial Achievement Medal
Air Force Commendation Medal
Combat Readiness Medal with three oak leaf clusters
National Defense Service Medal
Southwest Asia Service Medal with two bronze stars
Global War on Terrorism Service Medal
Armed Forces Reserve Medal with silver hourglass
Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross
Kuwait Liberation Medal (Government of Kuwait)
EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION
Second Lieutenant April 12, 1972
First Lieutenant April 12, 1975
Captain April 12, 1979
Major April 12, 1986
Lieutenant Colonel June 13, 1991
Colonel June 1, 1996
Brigadier General Feb. 6, 2004
(Current as of December 2005)