Commanding Officer

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CDR SAMUEL B. RICHARDSON
Commanding Officer
Fighter Squadron Fourteen

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BIOGRAPHY :

Commander Samuel B. Richardson, a native of San Diego, California, was commissioned in 1982 after receiving a degree in Electrical Engineering from the University of California at Los Angeles.

He reported to NAS Pensacola, Florida in April 1983 and was designated a Naval Aviator in June 1985. Following his winging, he remained at NAS Pensacola serving as a SerGrad instructor before reporting to the VF-124 Gunslingers at NAS Miramar, California for training in the Grumman F-14 Tomcat. Upon the completion of his replacement training, he reported to the VF-114 Aardvarks in December 1987. During this tour he completed two West-Pac deployments, participated in Operation "Praying Mantis", and graduated from the Navy Fighter Weapons School (TopGun).

In April 1990 he was selected for duty as a TopGun instructor and served on the staff of the Navy Fighter Weapons School until May 1993. CDR Richardson then reported to the VF-213 Black Lions where he served as the Maintenance Officer and Operations Officer. During this tour he was selected as Fighter Wing Pacific's Fighter Pilot of the Year and Naval Air Pacific's Tactical Aviator of the Year. In April 1995 he reported to Commander, Fighter Wing Pacific as the Director of Tomcat Strike Fighter Weapons School and served as the school's final Director prior to its consolidation with Strike/Fighter Weapons and Tactics School Atlantic. During this time he oversaw the introduction of the Strike Fighter Weapons and Tactics program for the Tomcat community.

In April 1996 he reported to the Operations Directorate of the Joint Staff in Washington, D.C., for duty as an Action Officer working Current Plans for the U.S. Central Command. He served in that capacity until June 1998 when he reported to the VF-101 Grim Reapers for refresher training in the F-14A Tomcat at NAS Oceana, Virginia. On November 6th, 1998 he joined the VF-14 Tophatters as Executive Officer.

While serving as Executive Officer of the Tophatters during their deployment aboard the USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN-71) in 1999, he led numerous combat missions during the course of Operation Operation "Allied Force" over Kosovo and Operation Operation "Southern Watch" over Iraq.

CDR Richardson has accumulated over 600 carrier arrested landings and more than 3800 hours in various Naval tactical aircraft, including the A-4F Skyhawk, F-16N Viper, and over 2000 hours in the F-14 Tomcat. His personal decorations include the Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Meritorious Service Medal,Air Medal (two awards with combat distinction), Strike/ Flight Air Medal (five awards), Joint Commendation Medal (two awards), Navy Commendation Medal (two awards), Navy Achievement Medal, and numerous other campaign and service awards.

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