Colonel Richard Sperling
Colonel(R) Richard Andrew Sperling was born in Elmhurst, Illinois on 4 July 1942. He attended Western Michigan University where he graduated as a Distinguished Military Graduate with a Bachelor of Business Administration Degree majoring in Business Management and Psychology and a minor in Military Science on 11 June 1965. He continued his education with the completion of a one year post graduate studies in Transportation Management at the College of William and Mary, Williamsburg, Virginia in 1971.
COL(R) Sperling entered the U.S. Army in 1965 where his active duty assignments included that of an Annual Service Practice Operations Officer, McGregor Range, Ft Bliss, Texas; Section Leader, S-2, 155th Assault Helicopter Company and Section Leader, Aviation Safety Officer, 188th Assault Helicopter Company in Vietnam; Assistant S-3, 3rd Battalion Artillery, Cleveland, Ohio. His U.S. Army Reserve service spanning 26 years includes duty in the USAR Control Group; Section Leader, 327th Aviation Company, Ft Mead, Maryland; Airfield Commander Tipton AAF, 2122nd U.S. Army Garrison Support Unit, Ft Mead, Maryland; Commander 195th Aviation Company (ASH) CH-47's, Ft Mead, Maryland. Upon being promoted to LTC, he assumed duties as Transportation Management Officer, 2122nd U.S. Army Garrison, Baltimore, Maryland. He was also Team Chief, Inspector General Division, serving at the Garrison Headquarter.
After moving to San Francisco, California with his job as a pilot for United Airlines, COL Sperling served as Aviation Officer (Mobility Designee) Troop Support and Aviation Material Readiness Command, St Louis, Missouri; Battalion Commander, 820th Engineering Battalion, Oakland, California; Brigade Executive Officer, 4th Brigade, 91st Division, San Francisco, California; Chief, Transportation Branch, 91st MTC Camp Parks, Dublin, California; Member, 6399 RTU, 91st Division also located in Camp Parks. Having been promoted to Colonel he then assumed duties as Commander, 6405 RTU, 351st Civilian Affairs Command, Mt View, California; Staff Aviation Officer, IMI, USARJ/IX Corps, Camp Zama, Japan. His final assignment was as Principal Regional Military Emergency Coordinator (RMEC/REPLO), Sixth U.S. Army H.Q. Presidio of San Francisco where his team responded to the destructive Northridge Earthquake as well as other major disasters.
His military education includes the Air Defense Officer Basic Course; Primary and Advanced Helicopter School; Transportation Officer Advance Course; Air Transportability Planning Course; Aviation Safety Officer Course; Aviation Qualification Course CH-47; Rotary Wing Instrument Course; Command and General Staff College; TRADOC Pre-Command Course (Engineer School); Reserve Component National Security Course conducted by the National War College and National Security Emergency Preparedness Liaison Officers Course.
COL(R) Sperling's military awards include the Distinguished Service Cross, awarded for extraordinary heroism in the Republic of Vietnam. As a First Lieutenant, he distinguished himself by exceptionally valorous actions as an aircraft commander of a helicopter on a heliborne assault mission where he rescued a down aircraft crew at the risk of his own life. His other awards are the Legion of Merit; Meritorious Service Medal w/1 OLC; Air Medal W/22 OLC; Army Commendation Medal; National Defense Service Medal; Vietnam Service Medal; Armed Forces Reserve Medal; Army Reserve Component Achievement Medal w/1 OLC; Army Service Ribbon; Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal; Master Army Aviator Badge; Basic Missileman Badge; and Expert Pistol Badge.
Colonel Sperling was a commercial airline pilot for United Airlines having flown Boeing 737, 747, 757 and 767 aircraft until his retirement 1 August 2002. He has logged over 16000 flight hours. His final six years were on the B747-400 flying the former Pan American Pacific Routes Colonel Sperling is married to the former Marilyn Carlton of San Francisco, CA and has three children, He also has four grandchildren, three boys and one girl. Now being retired twice, he keeps busy as a Boy Scoutmaster and Aviation Merit Badge Counselor, EAA Young Eagles Coordinator, and Veterans Administration volunteer, His military service totals 30 years.