Major General (Ret)  Richard S. "Beef" Haddad transitioned from the Air Force after 35 years of service in 2016 as Vice Commander, Air Force Reserve Command. While working in the Air Force Reserve, he served as Deputy Chief in the Pentagon and directed Planning and Programming (A5/8). Additionally, General Haddad sat on the Air Force Board that plans, programs, budgets, and executes future warfighting capabilities for the Air Force.

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Prior to his military retirement, “Beef” served as the Vice Commander of the Air Force Reserve Command, General Haddad directed the daily operations of the command, with 70,000 Citizen Airmen and more than 300 aircraft among three numbered air forces, 33 flying wings, 10 flying groups and one space wing.

 

General Haddad is a veteran special operations pilot with hundreds of hours of combat flying in the AC130 Spectre Gunship and the MC130 Combat Talon during Operations Desert Storm, Enduring Freedom, and Iraqi Freedom. His aerial combat awards include three Distinguished Flying Crosses with “V for Valor” device, and five Air Medals. He has deployed to combat zones eight times during his career.

 

Following September 11th, General Haddad commanded the 711th Special Operations Squadron through operations Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom, during which the unit compiled more than 5,000 combat hours of accident-free flying and is still recognized as the most combat-decorated Reserve flying unit.

 

Deeply committed to continuing to serve, “Beef” is a board member on the Florida Defense Support Task Force and he serves on the Board of Directors for the Tampa Bay Defense Alliance.  He also serves as a Board Member on the United States Air Force Academy Falcon Foundation.  As a part of the Two Blue Aces team, Beef is a co-author of Leadership from 30,000 Feet published in 2019.  His work ranges from executive coaching and team building to consulting for defense contractors.

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“Beef” is also a retired American Airlines Pilot.  He is married to Ginger, a retired Air Force Colonel and Judge Advocate. They have two daughters, Alexandra and Victoria. Alexandra and her husband, Anthony, are both attorneys in Tampa and have two children, Aurora and Jacob.  Victoria is an emergency medical physician. She and her wife, Michelle, live in Saginaw, Michigan with their son Wyatt.