Colonel Richard B. Foster is the Vice Commander, 1st Fighter Wing, Air Combat Command, Joint Base Langley-Eustis, Virginia. As Vice Commander, he ensures the wing is ready to deploy and employ F-22 air dominance fighters worldwide in support of Combatant Commander taskings. He assists the commander in leading the wing’s 1,700 personnel, two airfields, two groups, and six squadrons, including two F-22 fighter squadrons and a T-38 fighter training squadron. Colonel Foster entered the Air Force in 1998 after receiving his commission from Officer Training School. He attended pilot training at Columbus Air Force Base, Mississippi where he was the top graduate of his class. Since then, Col Foster has served in a variety of operational flying positions as instructor pilot in the F-15C and F-22A. While serving on the Headquarters Air Combat Command staff in the Requirements Directorate, Col Foster deployed to Bagram Air Base, Afghanistan as MC-12W Mission Commander and upon his return, he qualified as Adversary Air Mission Commander in the T-38A. Following his time on the staff, Col Foster served as commander of the 23rd Training Squadron, Officer Training School, Maxwell Air Force Base, Alabama. He is a graduate of the Air Command and Staff College and the Air War College. In his previous assignment, Col Foster served in the Operations Directorate, Headquarters, North American Aerospace Defense Command, Peterson Air Force Base, Colorado. Colonel Foster is a command pilot with more than 2,400 flying hours in the F-22A, F-15C, T-38A/C, and MC-12W, including 605 combat hours in support of Operations SOUTHERN WATCH and ENDURING FREEDOM. He is married to the former Beth Knafels of Glendale, AZ. They have four children, Sarah (20), Matthew (16), Christopher (15), and Claire (10).
EDUCATION
1997 Bachelor of Science degree, Aeronautical Science, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical Univ., Prescott, Ariz.
1998 Officer Training School, Maxwell, AFB, Ala.
2003 Squadron Officer School, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
2009 Master of Science degree, Aeronautical Science, Embry Riddle Aeronautical Univ., Prescott, Ariz.
2009 Air Command and Staff College, by correspondence
2011 Master of Military Operational Art and Science, Air Command and Staff College, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
2012 Air War College, by correspondence
2018 Master of Strategic Studies, Air War College, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
ASSIGNMENTS
1. August 1998 – November 1998, Student, Officer Training School, Maxwell AFB, Alabama
2. November 1998 – July 2000, Student, Specialized Undergraduate Pilot Training, Columbus AFB, Mississippi
3. July 2000 – February 2001, Student, F-15C Formal Training Unit, Tyndall AFB, Florida
4. February 2001 – December 2003, F-15C Mission Commander, Squadron, and Wing Electronic Combat Pilot,
44th Fighter Squadron and 18th Operations Support Squadron, Kadena AB, Japan
5. December 2003 – March 2007, F-15C Instructor Pilot, Flight Commander, and F-15C Academic Instructor, 95th Fighter Squadron and 325th Operations Support Squadron, Tyndall AFB, Florida
6. November 2006 – March 2007, Student, F-22A Transition Course, Tyndall AFB, Florida
7. March 2007 – June 2010, F-22A Instructor Pilot, Assistant Director of Operations, and Chief, Plans Programs, and Evaluations, 94th Fighter Squadron and 1st Fighter Wing, JB Langley-Eustis, Virginia
8. June 2010 – June 2011, Student, Air Command and Staff College, Maxwell AFB, Alabama
9. June 2011 – July 2014, Chief, F-22 Branch and Program Element Monitor, Headquarters, Air Combat Command, JB Langley-Eustis, Virginia
10. July 2014 – June 2015, Chief of Safety, 1st Fighter Wing, JB Langley-Eustis, Virginia
11. June 2015 – June 2017, Commander, 23d Training Squadron, Maxwell AFB, Alabama
12. June 2017 – June 2018, Student, Air War College, Maxwell AFB, Alabama
13. June 2018 – July 2019, Deputy Branch Chief, Future Operations, Operations Directorate, Headquarters, North American Aerospace Defense Command, Peterson AFB, Colorado
14. June 2019 – July 2020, Chief, Future Operations Division, Operations Directorate, Headquarters, North American Aerospace Defense Command, Peterson AFB, Colorado
15. July 2020 – Present, Vice Commander, 1st Fighter Wing, JB Langley-Eustis, Virginia
SUMMARY OF JOINT ASSIGNMENTS 1. June 2018 – July 2019, Deputy Branch Chief, Future Operations, Operations Directorate, Headquarters, North American Aerospace Defense Command, Peterson AFB, Colorado, as a lieutenant colonel
2. June 2019 – July 2020, Chief, Future Operations Division, Operations Directorate, Headquarters, North American Aerospace Defense Command, Peterson AFB, Colorado, as a colonel
FLIGHT INFORMATION Rating: Command Pilot Flight hours: more than 2,400
Aircraft flown: F-22A, F-15C, T-38A/C and MC-12W
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS Defense Meritorious Service Medal
Meritorious Service Medal with three oak leaf clusters
Air Medal with five oak leaf clusters
Air Force Commendation Medal with one oak leaf cluster
Air Force Achievement Medal
Afghanistan Campaign Medal
EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION Second Lieutenant November 13, 1998
First Lieutenant November 13, 2000
Captain November 13, 2002
Major July 1, 2008
Lieutenant Colonel November 1, 2013
Colonel December 1, 2019
(Current as of July 2020)