Rear Admiral (Lower Half) Richard J. Wallace recently retired from the Navy after 31 years of honorable service. A retirement ceremony was held on 23 June 2007 at 0900 in the Ocean Breeze Conference Center aboard Naval Station Mayport, Florida. As Director of the Reserve component of the Naval Air Systems Command, Wallace also served as the Deputy Assistant Commander, Naval Air Systems Command.

Rear Admiral Wallace was born in Dayton, OH, and spent most of his youth in Rockville, MD. He attended Hamilton College in Clinton, NY, and earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Physics in 1975. He was commissioned an ensign, USNR, in February 1976, after graduating from Aviation Officers Candidate School in Pensacola, FL. He entered flight training and earned his Wings of Gold on April 8, 1977, at Kingsville, TX. RDML Wallace joined VA-174, the A7E fleet training squadron. Upon completion of training, he was assigned to Attack Squadron 86 (VA-86) and deployed aboard the USS NIMITZ and cruised the Mediterranean Sea and Indian Ocean.

Following his tour with VA-86, RDML Wallace was sent to the Naval Postgraduate School from 1980 to 1983 where he earned Master of Science and Professional Engineer degrees in Aeronautical Engineering, with a specialty in Avionics. He also graduated from the Aviation Safety School. RDML Wallace went back to the cockpit, joining Fleet Composite Squadron 8 (VFC-8) as a fleet adversary pilot at Roosevelt Roads, PR and accrued approximately 1,000 hours flying the A-4 Skyhawk. Over his career, he accumulated than 3600 flight hours in a variety of aircraft and more than 300 carrier arrested landings.

On leaving active duty in December 1985, RDML Wallace again received a Reserve commission. He was assigned to the Naval Air Systems Command, Naval Air Logistics Unit 0166 in January 1986. His next tour was with NASC 0366 as the Executive Officer. He assumed the duties of Commanding Officer of NASC 0166 in October 1998, NASC 0566 in October 2000, and NASC 0266 in August 2002. His decorations include the Meritorious Service Medal, Navy Commendation Medal, and Navy Unit Commendation.

RDML Wallace finished his formal education in December 1991, earning a Ph.D in Aerospace Engineering from the Virginia Polytechnic Institute. In civilian life, Dr. Wallace served as Assistant Deputy Undersecretary of Defense for Full Spectrum Dominance and is presently Chief Scientist for Space and Naval Warfare Systems Center, Charleston. He and his family make their home in Saint Petersburg, FL.

Rear Admiral (Upper Half) Paul V. Shebalin, Deputy Commander for Mobilization, Naval Sea Systems Command was the guest speaker. In his remarks, Rear Admiral Shebalin praised Rear Admiral Wallace’s many contributions to the Navy and Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR) Reserve Program, and lauded the successes he amassed during his remarkable career.

In his brief remarks, Rear Admiral Wallace thanked his family for their many sacrifices and unfailing support during his Navy career. He also shared he was grateful for the privilege to “wear the cloth of this great Nation” and was “proud of the many contributions the NAVAIR Reserve Program made to the Naval Aviation Enterprise during his tenure.”

The NAVAIR Reserve Program (NRP) provides qualified and diverse civilian and military experience in operational support of Naval Aviation Enterprise-related research and development, engineering, program management, logistics, and industrial capability activities. The 350 Naval Reserve officer and enlisted men and women of the NRP train constantly to respond to evolving Naval Aviation Enterprise missions enabling the organization to harvest tangible cost reductions that contribute to fleet recapitalization. The NRP is comprised of 23 individual commands and detachments, based at 10 sites in 8 states, supporting 12 distinct mission areas.”

Captain Richard Roomian, NAVAIR Reserve Program Chief of Staff, was named Acting Director, Naval Air Systems Command Reserve Program, until such time that Rear Admiral Wallace’s prospective relief reports for duty in October.

Photo caption: During a ceremony at Naval Station Mayport, FL on Saturday, June 23, 2007, Rear Admiral Richard Wallace retired from the Navy after 31 years of honorable Service. RDML Richard Wallace is shown reading his retirement orders as RADM Paul Shebalin, CAPT Rich Roomian and CDR Philip Wyrick listen on.