Richard V. Reynolds

Segment Synopsis: Born January 7 1949, Reynolds describes his childhood growing up in Aberdeen Washington. He talks about his interest in math and sports, and how a home built hovercraft helped him get into the Air Force Academy on the 19th of June 1967.

Keywords: Aberdeen (Wash.); Ground-effect machines; United States Air Force Academy

Subjects: Childhood in Aberdeen,High School Interests; Getting accepted to the Air Force Academy

Segment Synopsis: Three days into attending the Air Force Academy Reynold's mother died and he had to take leave to attend her funeral. On the very first Earth Day Reynolds has his first date with his future wife, who accepts his proposal and goes with him to Vance Air Force Base class 7301.

Keywords: Aerospace engineering; Air pilots, Military--Training of--United States; Cessna Mescalero (Training plane); Earth Day; T-37 (Training plane); T-38 Talon (Training plane); United States Air Force Academy; Vance Air Force Base (Okla.)

Subjects: Attending the Air Force Academy; Death of Mother; Pilot Training at Vance Air Force Base

Segment Synopsis: Reynolds discusses his time as a instructor and check-pilot at Vance Air force Base where he refined his flying.

Keywords: Air pilots, Military--Training of--United States; Flight schools--United States; Randolph Air Force Base (Tex.); T-38 Talon (Training Plane); Vance Air Force Base (Okla.)

Subjects: First Assignment, Pilot Instructor at Vance Air Force Base

Segment Synopsis: From 1975 to 1978 Reynolds served as a B-52 pilot primarily for nuclear deterrence, but also running surveillance operations. It wasn't his first choice, but he found that he enjoyed his command position and developed a credo that served him through the rest of his time in the Air Force.

Keywords: Air Pilot; B-52 bomber; Castle Air Force Base (Calif.); Eagle (Jet fighter plane); F-16 (Jet fighter plane); Fairchild Air Force Base (Wash.); Nuclear Weapons

Subjects: B-52 mission; Being a pilot in 1975; Command credo

Segment Synopsis: In 1979 Reynolds is accepted to Test Pilot School at Edwards Air Force Base where he flies 35 different aircraft. He describes why he wanted to be a test pilot, the difficulties of test pilot school, and winning the Onizuka Prop Wash Award.

Keywords: Doolittle, James H. III; Edwards Air Force Base (Calif.); United States. Air Force. Test Pilot School

Subjects: Test Pilot School, Class 79B

Segment Synopsis: After test pilot school Reynolds entered the B-1 Combine Test Force flying chase maneuvers. In 1982 he attends the Staff College at Maxwell Air Force Base as a Major before returning to the B-1 program. In 1984 on a test of the B-1 Reynolds is involved in a crash where his co-pilot, Doug Benefield, is killed and Reynolds breaks his back. He spends several months learning to walk again. He praises the Air Force for giving him a second chance and describes the realities of being a test pilot.

Keywords: Air Force Flight Test Center (U.S.); Aircraft accident victims; KC-135 (Tanker aircraft); Maxwell Air Force Base (Ala.); Pilot ejection seats; Rockwell International; T-38 Talon (Training plane); United States. Air Force. Test Pilot SchoolRockwell B-1 (Bomber)

Subjects: B-1 Combine Test Force; Staff College

Segment Synopsis: Reynolds compares the differences between the B-2, B-1, and B-52, and gives a short history of the aircraft. In 1986 he attends the Navy War College before being a flying squadron commander of the 4952nd Test Squadron. The 4952nd mission was to collect data from missile tests, satellites, and various other tests. From there he was assigned to the Defense Systems Management College where he was promoted to Colonel and the put in charge of major programs including the B-2.

Keywords: B-2 bomber; B-52 (Bomber); Boeing 707 (Jet transports); Defense Systems Management College; Fort Belvoir (Va.); Naval War College (U.S.); Rockwell B-1 (Bomber); Wright-Patterson Air Force Base (Ohio)

Segment Synopsis: Reynolds describes his next career progression supervising the System Program Offices and the variety of programs under his charge. On 17th of July 1999 he had the opportunity to fly the B-2 bomber as a tribute to his friend and mentor, Leroy Schroeder, who was suffering with ALS. He discusses what it was like working on a top secret project.

Keywords: Air Force Academy (U.S.); C-17 (Jet transport); Command and control systems; Defense information, Classified; Edwards Air Force Base (Calif.); F117 (Jet fighter plane); Northrop Aircraft, Inc.; Palmdale (Calif.); Pentagon; Radar; Schroeder, Leroy; Software; T-1 Jayhawk; T-6 (Training plane); V-22 Osprey (Transport plane)

Subjects: Flying the B-2; Supervising System Program Offices

Segment Synopsis: Reynolds discusses what it was like commanding the Aeronautical Systems Center, some of the projects they worked on, and how the programs had to adapt to the changing needs of the Armed Forces. He also discusses the initial response to the 9/11 attacks and supporting the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq.

Keywords: Air forces--Procurement; C-17 (Jet transport); Drone aircraft; Iraq War, 2003-2011; Operation Enduring Freedom, 2001-; September 11 Terrorist Attacks, 2001; United States. Air Force. Systems Command. Aeronautical Systems Division; Wright-Patterson Air Force Base (Ohio)

Subjects: 9/11 attacks; Aeronautical Systems Center

Segment Synopsis: Reynolds talks about the Big Safari program and becoming Vice Commander of Material Command before retiring in 2005. He shares his memories of the 9/11 attacks when his plane was grounded and he drove part way back to Wright-Patterson Air Force base from South Dakota. He also explains the Air Forces increasing awareness of terrorist threats prior to 2001.

Keywords: Afghanistan; Ellsworth Air Force Base (S.D.); Martin, Gregory S., 1948-; Musharraf, Pervez; Pakistan; September 11 Terrorist Attacks, 2001; Wright-Patterson Air Force Base (Ohio)

Subjects: Big Safari; Material Command; Memories of 9/11

Segment Synopsis: On August 1, 2005 Reynolds retires from the United States Air Force and takes six months off. After which he begins his own consulting firm, begins consulting for various corporations, is ultimately placed on the board of six different major organizations, and helps on non-profit boards as well. He expresses a great deal of appreciation for all the opportunities he has had and continues to have, but really says what he has appreciated about his career are the people. He also discusses his relationship with John Glenn and Neil Armstrong.

Keywords: Armstrong, Neil, 1930-2012; Border security; Corporate governance; Dayton (Ohio); Glenn, John, 1921-; Nonprofit organizations; Retirement; Saudi Arabia; Society of Experimental Test Pilots

Subjects: Consulting; Corporate Governance; Retirement; The importance of people

Segment Synopsis: Reynold didn't get to be an astronaut, but never regretted his decisions and the opportunities the Air Force gave him. He's proudest of the people he has been able to mentor, including his two daughters one of which works for the Air Force.

Keywords: Aircraft accidents; Outer space -- exploration; United States Air Force Academy--Examinations

Subjects: Missed opportunities; Points of pride - people

Segment Synopsis: Reynolds describes his visit to Saudi Arabia in 2006 as a contractor, which was his first visit to the Middle East. Reynolds had the unique experience to work on the top secret B-2 Stealth Bomber; a plane that captured the attention of the world when it was first revealed to the public in 1989. He talks about what it was like to work on a project that had so much public interest and how the B-2 is different from most airplanes. He also explains why he enjoyed his command positions most of all his experiences.

Keywords: B-2 bomber; B-2 bomber--Testing; B-21 bomber; Northrop Grumman Corporation; Saudi Arabia; The Right Stuff -- 1983 -- (Movie); United States. Army. Air Service. Flight Test Section

Subjects: Visiting Saudi Arabia; Working on the B-2

Segment Synopsis: Reynolds discusses what it's like to be a General in the Air Force and how that is different from other ranks. He also talks about his father-in-law who was a "sailor's sailor" and his influence on his command.

Keywords: Character; General Officer (U.S.); Modern military tradition; Reputation

Subjects: Being a General Officer; Character; Wife's (Joan) family military tradition

Segment Synopsis: Reynolds discusses how the Air force has changed in his time. He explains how the Air Force has become more technologically driven and how the types of people in the Air Force have come to reflect our changing society.

Keywords: Astronautics and civilization; Economics--Sociological aspects; High technology industries--Military aspects; War, technology, and history; World war II

Subjects: Race, Gender, and Sexuality; Technologies importance to the Air Force

Segment Synopsis: The character of war has changed over the past several decades; Reynolds discusses those changes, how the military adapts, some of the biggest threats to the country, and how are leaders are failing to deal with these issues.

Keywords: Aerodynamics, Hypersonic; B-2 bomber; Cruise missile defenses; Cyberspace; Cyberspace operations (Military science); F-22 (Jet fighter plane); Nations; Non-state actors (International relations); Politics, Practical

Subjects: How war changes technology; The Character of War

Segment Synopsis: Reynolds talks about the importance of service to ones people, community, and country. He believes that the stories of service of our military veterans will be inspirational to others. He also talks about taking care of veterans and respecting their sacrifice.

Keywords: Military service, Voluntary--United States; Modern military tradition; Sacrifice; War stories,American; Wounded Warrior Project

Subjects: The importance of service; Understanding sacrifice