Retired August 15, 2005
Major General Richard E. Spooner is serving as the Director Command, Control, Communications, and Computer Systems Division (J-6) at the National Guard Bureau. The assignment comes under the National Guard Assistant Program (NGAP).
He attended the United States Air Force Preparatory School in 1965 and was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the Air Force upon graduation from the U.S. Air Force Academy, Colorado Springs, Colorado in 1969. He was a navigator for an air refueling squadron in Louisiana, weapons system officer stationed in California, Thailand, England, and a chief scheduler in Arizona. After joining the District of Columbia Air National Guard, he served as the wing electronic warfare officer for the F-105 and F-4, held a number of air operations staff assignments and commanded a support group within the unit. Major General Spooner is the former Deputy Commanding General for the District of Columbia Air National Guard and is currently serving as the Director Command, Control, Communications, and Computer Systems, J6, for the National Guard Bureau's Joint Staff in Arlington, Virginia. The general is a master navigator with more than 2,900 flying hours and 50 combat missions, primarily in the KC-135, F-105, and F-4 aircraft.
1965 U.S. Air Force Preparatory School
1969 Bachelor of science degree in engineering, U.S. Air Force Academy, Colorado
Springs
1976 Squadron Officer School, by correspondence
1977 Master of science degree, human resource management, University of Utah,
Salt Lake City
1980 Air Command and Staff College, by seminar
1989 National Security Management Course, by correspondence
1996 National and International Security Management, JFK School of Government,
Harvard University, Cambridge, Mass.
1. July 1970 - May 1971, student, navigator training, Mather Air Force Base,
Calif.
2. May 1971- November 1971, student, combat crew training, Castle Air Force
Base, Calif.
3. November 1971 - July 1973, KC-135 navigator, 71st Air Refueling Squadron,
Barksdale Air Force Base, La.
4. July 1973 - January 1974, student, F-4 weapons systems officer training,
George Air Force Base, Calif.
5. January 1974 - June 1974, F-4 weapons systems officer, 435th Tactical Fighter
Squadron, Ubon Airfield, Thailand
6. June 1974 - February 1975, F-4 squadron instructor weapons systems officer,
13th Tactical Fighter Squadron, Udorn Royal Thai Air Force Base, Thailand
7. February 1975 - May 1976, chief of training, weapons systems officer, 492nd
Tactical Fighter Squadron, Royal Air Force Station, Lakenheath, England
8. May 1976 - March 1978, chief of academic scheduling, 58th Tactical Training
Squadron, Luke Air Force Base, Ariz.
9. March 1978 - Aug 1979, squadron assistant operations officer/F-4, 58th Tactical
Training Squadron, Luke Air Force Base, Ariz.
10. August 1979 - August 1981,wing electronic warfare officer, F-105, 113th
Tactical Fighter Wing, Andrews Air Force Base, Md.
11. August 1981 - August 1984, F-4 navigator instructor, 121st Fighter Squadron,
Andrews Air Force Base, Md.
12. August 1984 - August 1986, F-4 weapons systems officer, 121st Tactical Fighter
Squadron, Andrews Air Force Base, Md.
13. August 1986 - August 1988, assistant operations officer, 121st Tactical
Fighter Squadron, Andrews Air Force Base, Md.
14. August 1988 - September 1989, F-4 flight commander/instructor weapons systems
officer, 121st Tactical Fighter Squadron, Andrews Air Force Base, Md.
15. October 1989 - June 1991, deputy commander for support, 113th Tactical Fighter
Wing, Andrews Air Force Base, Md.
16. June 1991 - June 1993, deputy commander for support, 113th Fighter Wing,
Andrews Air Force Base, Md.
17. January 1993 - August 2000, deputy commanding general, air, Headquarters,
District of Columbia Air National Guard, Andrews Air Force Base, Md.
18. August 2000 - June 2003, Air National Guard assistant to the chief, National
Guard Bureau, for technology integration, intelligence oversight, and information
operations, Arlington, Va.
19. June 2003 - present, Director Command, Control, Communications, and Computer
Systems Division (J-6), National Guard Bureau, Arlington, Va.
Rating: Master navigator
Flight Hours: More than 2,900
Aircraft Flown: KC-135, F-105, F-4
Navigator wings from: Mather Air Force Base, Calif.
Distinguished Service Medal
Legion of Merit
Meritorious Service Medal with two oak leaf clusters
Air Medal
Air Force Commendation Medal with one oak leaf cluster
Combat Readiness Medal with one silver oak leaf cluster
National Defense Service Medal with one bronze star
Vietnam Service Medal
Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Palm
Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal with Bronze Star
Retired as the Director, Intelligence and Reconnaissance Programs, Lockheed Martin Business Development, Fairfax, Va.
Black Engineer of the Year Nominee, 1990/1992
Who's Who/Black Engineers of America - Howard University, 1972
Second Lieutenant Jun 4, 1969
First Lieutenant Dec 4, 1970
Captain Jun 4, 1972
Major Dec 13, 1981
Lieutenant Colonel Mar 16, 1986
Colonel Jun 9, 1990
Brigadier General Sep 23, 1994
Major General Aug 15, 2000
(Current as of June 2006)
The date of publication indicated on this biography reflects the most recent update. It does not necessarily reflect the date of printing.