Nomination of Thomas C. Richards To Be Federal Aviation Administrator

The President today announced his intention to nominate Thomas C. Richards, of Texas, to be Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration. He would succeed James B. Busey IV.

Since retiring from the Air Force in 1990, General Richards has served as a corporate consultant in Bryan, TX. In June 1990, General Richards was appointed by President Bush to serve as a member of the Commission on Aviation Safety and Security. Prior to this, General Richards, a four-star general in the U.S. Air Force, served as Deputy Commander in Chief for the Headquarters of the U.S. European Command in West Germany, 1986 - 1990. He was Commander of Air University, Maxwell Air Force Base in Montgomery, AL; Vice Commander of the 8th Air Force, 1984 - 1985; Commander of Keesler Technical Training Center in Biloxi, MS, 1982 - 1984; Chairman of the U.S. Air Force Recruiting Service, Randolph Air Force Base, TX, 1981 - 1982; and Commandant of Cadets of the U.S. Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, CO, 1978 - 1981.

General Richards graduated from Virginia Polytechnic Institute (B.S., 1956) and Shippensburg State College (M.A., 1973). He served in the U.S. Air Force, 1956 - 1990. General Richards was born February 13, 1930, in San Diego, CA. He is married, has three children, and resides in Bryan, TX.