Richard N. Richards

UWF degree and year of graduation:
Master of Science Aeronautical Systems 1970

Why did you choose to attend UWF?
At the time, I was in pilot training at NAS Pensacola and the opportunity for me to pursue an advanced degree was great. It was a good move on UWF’s part to conduct the program in cooperation with the Navy. Half the time, I flew for the Navy and the other half of the time, attended UWF.

What were your goals as a student?
This experience was the hardest thing I’ve ever done because I had to complete a demanding flight program and at the same time, complete a very demanding academic program. So, I guess my goal as a student was to be successful in both programs.

What is your best memory from your days at UWF?
I remember campus being pristine. It was new, fresh and up to date. The employees and professors definitely had a different step about them, which was refreshing.

What do you do now?
I retired from The Boeing Company three months ago. For the last several years I was the Deputy Program Manager for Space Shuttle in Houston, TX. Boeing has about 800 employees across the United States that directly support NASA’s Space Shuttle flight operations.

How did UWF help you progress to this point?
My undergraduate degree was in chemical engineering from the University of Missouri, so I didn’t have a strong background in aviation. It was 1969 and Vietnam was going on, so I had an obligation to enter the service and chose the Navy because I was interested in flying. UWF masters program helped me because it provided the aeronautical background I needed, which in turn, provided the engineering underpinnings with my career in the Navy. It laid the foundation for NASA astronaut corps and the other opportunities I applied for through my career.

Outside of working, what activities and organizations are you currently involved in and what are your hobbies?
I love the outdoors. My current hobby is traveling with my wife to different places that I flew over in the Space Shuttle but never had the opportunity to visit. I also love the warm weather in Houston, where I enjoy exercising, golf and running year round.

How do you stay connected to UWF?
It’s been difficult to visit campus and have not been back to Pensacola in some time. I do receive and read UWF mailings.

What advice do you have to current and future UWF students?
I think that setting goals and having a vision are important, but you also need to be flexible if other things evolve. Take advice from others because of their experiences. Also, hard work is the most important thing you can do because it will be appreciated and noticed by others.

What quality makes UWF special or unique?
My impression was someone at UWF must have had an incredible vision to enter into a partnership with the Navy at the time.

Visit Dick’s NASA bio for more information: http://www.jsc.nasa.gov/Bios/htmlbios/richards.html

Back to top