Richard A. Shook, USAF (Ret.)

Rich grew up in an Air Force family and is a 1978 graduate of the U.S. Air Force Academy where he earned his commission and a Bachelor of Science degree.  Rich received a Master of Science degree in Business Administration from the University of Northern Colorado in 1982.

 

Rich attended Undergraduate Pilot Training at Williams AFB near Phoenix AZ.  He became a First Assignment Instructor Pilot in the T-37 at Williams AFB from 1979-1983.  Rich transitioned to the F-15 Eagle at Langley AFB, VA from 1983-1986.   His next assignment was as an F-15 Instructor Pilot at Luke AFB, AZ until 1989.  

 

His military career assignments included mission-ready instructor pilot, command and staff positions in Air Combat Command, Air Education and Training Command, and U.S. Joint Forces Command.  Rich’s combat assignments included duty in the Combined Air and Space Operations Center in Southwest Asia and as Assistant Vice Commander, U.S. Air Forces Central during Operations Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom.  He has flown over 2200 military hours in the F-15, T-37 and T-38. 

 

After transitioning to the Air Force Reserve in 1989, Rich flew with a major airline in the Boeing 737, McDonnel-Douglas DC-9 and Airbus 320 until his retirement in 2007.  He later served as a government civil servant specializing in joint command and control under U.S. Joint Forces Command in Norfolk, VA retiring in 2014.

 

Rich also retired in 2014 as a Major General in the Air Force Reserve after more than thirty-six years of total Air Force service.  In 2015, Rich joined GE Aviation-Military Systems as a Senior Manager for USAF Customer Programs.  In that role, he served as the company’s lead representative at Headquarters Air Combat Command (ACC) and Headquarters Air Education and Training Command (AETC).

 

He and his wife, Margie live in Yorktown, Virginia.  They are proud parents of four adult children and love to “spoil” their four grandchildren.  Rich supports multiple local non-profit organizations.  He currently serves as President, York Foundation for Public Education and President, Greater Hampton Roads Chapter within the National Defense Industrial Association.  He is President Emeritus for the Air Force Association’s Langley Chapter as well as the First Fighter Association.  In his spare time, Rich enjoys golfing with friends and working in the yard.