Air Force agent killed in Iraq

  • Published
ANDREWS AIR FORCE BASE, Md. (AFPN) --  A special agent assigned to the 33rd Field Investigation Squadron here and deployed to Kirkuk Air Base, Iraq, was killed in action Aug. 8.

Special Agent Rick A. Ulbright, 49, died as a result of injuries sustained during a rocket attack at Kirkuk AB.

Agent Ulbright served as a psychophysiological detection of deception examiner for the 33rd FIS before his deployment to Iraq.

“Rick was truly a great American, an outstanding civilian ‘Airman,’ an outstanding special agent, and a superb (retired) senior (noncommissioned officer),” said Brig. Gen. Eric Patterson, Air Force Office of Special Investigations commander. “Above all, Rick was a family man and a friend to many.”

Agent Ulbright entered the Air Force on Aug. 8, 1977. After completing basic military training at Lackland Air Force Base, Texas, he attended technical training at Sheppard AFB, Texas. In May 1978, after graduating as a small helicopter maintenance technician, his first assignment was Kirtland AFB, N.M. In June 1982, he was assigned to Detachment 3 of the Aerospace and Recovery Squadron at Grand Forks AFB, N.D. He joined AFOSI in August 1986 and became a PDD examiner in November 1992.

After retiring from active duty in July 1998, Agent Ulbright returned to AFOSI in August 1998 as a civilian PDD examiner here. He was assigned as a PDD examiner to AFOSI Det. 801 at Buckley AFB, Colo., in August 2000, and then reassigned to the 33rd FIS in June 2002.

Before his deployment to Iraq, Agent Ulbright conducted criminal specific PDD examinations supporting various military and federal investigative organizations and conducted screening examining for organizations that supported various national security objectives.

“Agent Ulbright deployed to Baghdad, Iraq in June 2004 as a volunteer and was conducting polygraphs throughout the region,” General Patterson said. “At this particular time, Rick was (on temporary duty) to Kirkuk. He was doing what we know as a command and nation must be done. He was doing his part to combat terrorism. Rick was aware of the dangers in Iraq, but was stalwart in the face of danger to do his job, and he accomplished it everyday with great pride.”

His military decorations include Air Force Meritorious Service Medal, Air Force Commendation Medal with one oak leaf cluster and Air Force Achievement Medal.

“As much as we loved and respected Rick, his family has suffered an even greater loss,” General Patterson said. “Rick’s passing is also deeply felt by his friends and co-workers, as well as his deployed comrades, his community, our Air Force and our country. We will all miss Rick.”

Agent Ulbright is survived by his wife, Karen, their two daughters, Misty and Brea, a son-in-law and a 2-month-old granddaughter. (Information compiled by Staff Sgt. April Lapetoda of the 89th Airlift Wing public affairs office.)