Michelle Richards
Vienna,VA
Summary
People and mission oriented leader who enjoys solving challenging problems by leading and working with personnel from diverse functional communities. Successful leader, mentor, and instructor who has experience in entire spectrum of education, from developing to delivering to assessing curriculum. Trusted consultant who objectively assesses strengths and weaknesses and is able to develop and communicate recommendations for senior leaders and management. Significant amount of management experience from managing budgets to developing and optimizing administrative processes.
Overview
30
30
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Executive Officer to the Commander
Air Force District of Washington
11.2014 - Current
- Provide administrative support to the Commander of Air Force District of Washington responsible for serving as the Air Force Component Commander for JTF-NCR as well as overseeing military support for over 40,000 Airmen around the world.
Deputy Commander
United States Air Force
07.2012 - 11.2014
- Directs 2,000 person group responsible for civil engineering, logistics, personnel, and contracting support for operating and maintaining a $3.7B plant, 1,460 facilities, 112 miles of road, and $91M operating budget supporting 16,000 personnel across the National Capitol Region. Oversees base contingency response readiness, inspection programs, community planning, minor and major construction projects, community partnerships with surrounding counties/state organizations, environmental compliance, and partnership with Imagine Andrews Elementary School.
Communications Squadron Commander
United States Air Force
07.2010 - 07.2012
- Led 185 Airmen delivering mission critical Communications, Command and Control, and Intelligence Systems and Civil Engineering support required to operate and maintain $56M Air Operations Center, $22M Peninsula Satellite Communications network, and $1.5B in Command and Control facilities. Delivered Pacific theater-wide US-only and coalition data networks, emergency telecommunications networks, and radio nets.
Communications Planning Division Chief
United States Air Force
06.2008 - 07.2010
- Led 10 Airmen in deliberate, crisis action and exercise communications planning for 10 Air Force base operations in the Pacific theater. Air Force Pacific theater representative to the multi-national Communications and Command and Control, Interoperability Board responsible for engaging with all partner nations in the Pacific theater to ensure communications compatibility with United States AF Systems. Planned and oversaw $320M communications architecture and 1,200 personnel across the Pacific Air Force theater supporting operations across Pacific theater.
Chair of Courseware Development
United States Air Force
07.2006 - 05.2007
- Led 20-person cross-functional government, contractor team in developing Masters-level program which provided provide a continuum of learning across 10 years for distance learning and resident Officer Professional Military Education for 44,000 officers. Determined course standards, content, delivery, and assessment methods for a competency-based Masters Degree.
Director of Staff
United States Air Force
05.2006 - 09.2006
- Responsible for supervising 14-person staff providing translation, liaison, administrative, protocol, ceremonial, and embassy support to deployed wing conducting combat and humanitarian operations. Responsible for overseeing high-level host nation visits to US Air Base, including first-ever Kyrgyz presidential visit.
Student Squadron Director of Operations
United States Air Force
09.2005 - 07.2006
- Directed daily operations for 735 students and 9 instructors for Air Force's leader development school. Assisted commander with the ensuring standardized curriculum execution and quality education. Commanded, instructed, and evaluated 98 Air Force, international, and Civilian students in 5 week leader development program.
Leadership Development Course Instructor
United States Air Force
09.2004 - 09.2005
- Delivered leader development curriculum for 735 military, international, and civilian students during 5-week leadership development course.
Communications and Information Inspector
United States Air Force
06.2002 - 09.2004
- Led diverse 8-person team of hand-picked communications and information subject matter experts evaluating the effectiveness, efficiency, and combat capability of communications units across Air Force. Planned, coordinated, and conducted inspections for communications units ensuring compliance and readiness. Formulated policies and procedures for inspection process.
Communications Consultant
United States Air Force
11.1999 - 06.2002
- Supervised 6-personnel consultation staff in advising 7 communications units on achieving mission readiness and full unit capability through optimization of their management, security, safety, technical, and training programs. Planned and executed communications architectures to support training and evaluation exercises. Evaluated unit performance and provided assessment and recommendations to unit commanders for continued improvement.
Telecommunications Systems Flight Commander
United States Air Force
11.1997 - 10.1999
- Led largest AF telecommunications flight in Europe providing services for 40,000 customers. Guided 140 person flight in the operations and maintenance of Europe's largest switchboard, three major telephone switches, over 300 key systems, $20M fiber and copper cable infrastructure and 30,000 instruments.
Administrative Manager
United States Air Force
12.1995 - 10.1997
- Responsible for oversight of 5-person office providing executive and administrative support for 700 person unit. Served as Financial Manager for $5.7M budget developing yearly and long-term budget projections as well as overseeing budget execution.
Education
Masters of Military Art and Sciences - Military Science, Leadership and Operational Art
Army Command and General Staff College
01-2008
Masters of Information Systems Management - Information Systems Management
City University
01-2002
Air Force Leadership Course - Organizational Leadership
Squadron Officer School
01-2000
Communications and Information
Communications and Information Officer Qualification Course
01-1998
BA - Psychology
Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey-New Brunswick
01-1994
Skills
- Leadership
- Communications Planning
- Project Planning
- Education
- Active DoD Top Secret Clearance
- Military
- Command
- Air Force
- Defense
- Military Experience
- Organizational Leadership
- Management
- Team Leadership
- Mentoring
- Leadership Development
- Government
- Telecommunications
- Training
- Program Management
- DoD
- Security
- Policy
- Military Operations
- National Security
- Operational Planning
- Strategic Planning
- Government Contracting
- C4ISR
Accomplishments
- Planned and organized 9-11 Ceremony attending by the President of Kyrgyzstan and 20 other heads of state/ambassadors
Certification
Microsoft Office 365
Interests
Instructing, leadership development, strategic planning, coaching softball, organizational leadership
Timeline
Executive Officer to the Commander
Air Force District of Washington
11.2014 - Current
Deputy Commander
United States Air Force
07.2012 - 11.2014
Communications Squadron Commander
United States Air Force
07.2010 - 07.2012
Communications Planning Division Chief
United States Air Force
06.2008 - 07.2010
Chair of Courseware Development
United States Air Force
07.2006 - 05.2007
Director of Staff
United States Air Force
05.2006 - 09.2006
Student Squadron Director of Operations
United States Air Force
09.2005 - 07.2006
Leadership Development Course Instructor
United States Air Force
09.2004 - 09.2005
Communications and Information Inspector
United States Air Force
06.2002 - 09.2004
Communications Consultant
United States Air Force
11.1999 - 06.2002
Telecommunications Systems Flight Commander
United States Air Force
11.1997 - 10.1999
Administrative Manager
United States Air Force
12.1995 - 10.1997
Masters of Information Systems Management - Information Systems Management
City University
Air Force Leadership Course - Organizational Leadership
Squadron Officer School
Communications and Information
Communications and Information Officer Qualification Course
BA - Psychology
Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey-New Brunswick
Masters of Military Art and Sciences - Military Science, Leadership and Operational Art
Army Command and General Staff College