Richard Hilton Hackford Jr.

Colonel (Ret) Richard Hilton Hackford Jr. grew up on military bases around the world, graduating from Wiesboden High School in Wiesboden, Germany, in 1960. He graduated from the U. S. Air Force Academy in 1964, with a Bachelor's degree in Engineering Science.

Hackford graduated from pilot training, and attended Fighter Weapons School at Nellis AFB. In 1966, he flew as an F-105 pilot with the 469th TFS at Korat AB in Thailand where he flew 112 missions over North Vietnam; 36 as a Wild Weasel pilot. He returned to the U.S. as an instructor pilot, but was soon retired from flying due to injuries sustained in his shoot down over Laos in 1966. He continued to serve the Air Force at the Air Force Missile Development Center, the Air Force Avionics Laboratory, the A-10 SPO, as an Exchange Officer with the Royal Australian Air Force, Headquarters AFSC, and Research Development and Acquisition at the Pentagon. He retired as Deputy Chief of Staff for Acquisitions Logistics at Electronic Systems Division, Hansom AFB in MA in 1990 after 26 years of service.

Throughout his carrier Richard attended the Air Force Institute of Technology, with a Master's degree in Electrical Engineering, Squadron Officer's School, Air Command and Staff College, Defense Systems Management College, and the Air War College.

Colonel Hackford’s numerous awards and decorations include the Legion of Merit, the Air Force Meritorious Service Medal with three oak leaf clusters, Air Force Commendation Medal with one oak leaf cluster, Air Medal with 15 oak leaf clusters and the Purple Heart.