Hugh's News & Commentary

Chaplain, Major General Cecil Richardson, Chief of Air Force Chaplains Service was a key participant in the dedication ceremonies of the new Air Force Chaplain Corps College at Fort Jackson, SC, on Thursday, May 6, 2010.

Chaplain Richardson is an ordained minister in the Assemblies of God.

Chaplain Cecil Richardson became the Chief of Air Force Chaplains in 2008. He holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from Evangel University, Springfield, MO, and a Master of Divinity degree from Trinity Evangelical Divinity School, Deerfield, IL.

He began his career in 1967 as an enlisted intercept operator and Russian interpreter, and served until 1970.

In 1977, Chaplain Richardson received his commission and re-entered the Air Force as a chaplain. He served as a Protestant Chaplain for the 314th Tactical Airlift Wing, Little Rock, AFB, AR; 5073rd Air Base Group, Shemya, AFB, AK, and for the 1606th Air Base Wing, Kirtland AFB, NM. In 1983, he became an Air Staff Training Officer in the Office of the Chief of Chaplains, Bolling AFB, DC, followed by assignments as the 410th Bombardment Wing,   K.I. Sawyer AFB, MI, and the 7276th Air Base Group, Iraklion Air Station, Greece. In 1988, Chaplain Richardson was assigned as the Chief of the Education and Professional Development Division  of the Office of the Command Chaplain, Air Mobility Command, Scott AFB, IL, then the senior chaplain for the 62nd Airlift Wing, McChord AFB, WA.

In 1993, Chaplain Richardson became the Chaplain Corps assignments officer and in 1995, the Executive Director, Armed Forces Chaplains Board, Office of the Under Secretary of Defense. He has served as the Command Chaplain for the U. S. Central Command and Air Combat Command. In 2003, he became the Director of the Air Force Chaplain Service Institute in Maxwell AFB, AL. In 2004, he was appointed the Deputy Chief of Chaplains, and in May 2008, Air Force Chief of Chaplains.

[Editor's Note: In August 2009, Chaplain Cecil Richardson was the keynote speaker for the NAE Chaplains Retreat and Training Seminar in Branson, MO. Melvine and I shared a condo with him overlooking Table Rock Lake. Melvine prepared breakfast for us two of the mornings we were there. He is a very humble man with great leadership abilities, and a motivational and persuasive speaker.

Retired Army Chaplain (Colonel) Scott McChrystal is the endorsor for the Assemblies of God and is a brother to General Stanley A. McChrystal, Commander of U. S. Security Forces in Afghanistan. It is a joy to serve with Scott on the NAE Chaplains Commission.]