Robins officer comes up BIG in life, career

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Paul Ross
  • 116th Air Control Wing Public Affairs
ROBINS AIR FORCE BASE, Ga. (AFPN) --  A navigator with the 128th Airborne Command and Control Squadron here received the 2007 Blacks in Government Meritorious Service Award Aug. 17 in Nashville, Tenn.

Lt. Col. Joseph Richardson accepted given annually to a military member and Department of Defense civilian employee who has distinguished themselves through significant contributions to their service, the advancement of African Americans, and to the nation.

"An award like this is a reflection that I'm part of a core of people who are out there doing something beyond rhetoric," said the colonel, a 128th ACCS director of operations and E-8C Joint STARS navigator.

The BIG award focuses on the contribution to the war on terrorism, support for the community, Colonel Richardson said. It also focuses on mentoring individuals in the African-American community, helping facilitate their pursuits of aviation and engineering careers, and helping with professional development.

Colonel Richardson is actively involved with the community through an organization that introduces students to the field of aviation.

"The organization is called Aviation in Schools Inc.," he said. "This will be our sixth year of aviation week in which we go to Memphis city schools and hold general assemblies. We have people from the Memphis communities who are involved in all facets of aviation -- military members, flight attendants, aircraft mechanics, national weather people, FedEx pilots or navigators.

"We go in and do about a 45-minute presentation. The most important thing that we do is we go into these schools and give them a visual representation that they can touch," Colonel Richardson said. "We give them someone who is personally involved in aviation. We tell them what we do, why we like what we do and how we got to where we are."

The colonel sees himself as an example of everything the Air Force has to offer.

"I'm a walking advertisement, a billboard and a speaking poster of the opportunities the Air Force has to offer," Colonel Richardson said. "Look around you and see the blessings, the opportunities and the privileges that are yours by being a part of the greatest air and space force in the history of mankind. Take advantage of them to grow and develop and go out and tell people about them."

He said he feels it is every military member's job to inspire those who need guidance.

"There are people out there that don't know what they want to do," Colonel Richardson said. "They are looking for guidance, for direction. You may go out and speak to 50 kids and you'll see that one C student with a glimmer in his eye who will say, 'That's it. That is how I can become a positive member of society and contribute to my country.' You've got to reach that one student."

Through the Air Force, the father of three has learned the importance and necessity of diversity.

"It's very important because our strength as a military is in our diversity," Colonel Richardson said. "Our diversity is something that needs to be celebrated. It is more than just a nice thing to do, it is more than just a pat on the back for minorities -- it is a readiness issue. If we don't have incentives to keep our military diversified, it will affect our readiness. We have to make the military the model of inclusiveness and show how great we can all be when we celebrate our differences and bring them together for the greater good to the rest of society."

Comment on this story (comments may be published on Air Force Link)

Click here to view the comments/letters page