Chief Master Sergeant Richard S. Rusk is the Paralegal Functional Manager for Headquarters Air Combat Command at Joint Base Langley-Eustis, Virginia. He oversees more than 300 enlisted legal professionals and support staff serving across 18 subordinate legal activities. Chief Rusk entered the Air Force in 1992 and has held various roles, including as a paralegal and law office manager during deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan. He is now responsible for the professional development, readiness, operations, and effectiveness of the paralegal career field within Air Combat Command.

1. BIOGRAPHY
U N I T E D S T A T E S A I R F O R C E
CHIEF MASTER SERGEANT RICHARD S. RUSK
Chief Master Sergeant Richard S. Rusk is the Paralegal Functional
Manager, Headquarters Air Combat Command (ACC), Joint Base
Langley-Eustis, Virginia. ACC provides conventional and information
warfare forces to all unified commands to ensure air, space and
information superiority for warfighters and national decision-makers.
ACC may also be called upon to assist national agencies with
intelligence, surveillance and crisis response capabilities.
Chief Rusk is the senior enlisted leader responsible to the ACC Staff
Judge Advocate for the professional development, readiness,
operational employment, and mission effectiveness of more than 300
enlisted legal professionals and civilian administrative support
personnel serving in 18 subordinate legal activities. Chief Rusk
organizes, trains, and equips innovative legal professionals; leads
operational studies, training initiatives, and inspections; and develops
policy, plans and programs to enhance the efficiency and
effectiveness of legal services for air, space and cyber operations.
Chief Rusk entered the Air Force June 17, 1992. He began his career at Dyess Air Force Base, Texas as
a Base and Installation Security Systems (BISS) maintenance technician. He retrained into the paralegal
career field in April 2000. In August 2015, Chief Rusk was assigned to Air Combat Command at Joint Base
Langley-Eustis, Virginia. Chief Rusk is married to the former Brendia Holder of Phoenix, AZ. They have
two children, Brandon (22) and Faith (20).
EDUCATION
1993 Wideband Communications Apprentice Course, Keesler Air Force Base, MS
1996 Airman Leadership School (Levitow and Academic Award), Dyess Air Force Base, TX
2000 Paralegal Apprentice Course (Top Graduate), Maxwell Air Force Base, AL
2002 Associate of Applied Science, Electronic Systems Technology, CCAF
2002 Associate of Applied Science, Paralegal Studies, CCAF
2003 Paralegal Craftsman Course (Distinguished Graduate), Maxwell Air Force Base, AL
2003 NCO Academy, Gunter Air Force Base, AL
2004 Bachelor of Arts, General Studies, magna cum laude, Louisiana Tech University, Shreveport, LA
2006 SNCO Academy, by correspondence
2010 SNCO Academy, Gunter Air Force Base, AL
2012 Senior Enlisted Joint Professional Military Education, by correspondence
2014 Professional Manager Certification, CCAF
ASSIGNMENTS
1. July 1992 – January 1993, student, Wideband Communications, Keesler AFB, Mississippi
2. February 1993 – August 1997, BISS maintenance technician, 7th Communications Squadron, Dyess
AFB, Texas
3. September 1997 – August 1998, BISS maintenance technician, 8th Communications Squadron, Kunsan
AB, Republic of Korea

2. 4. September 1998 – March 2000, BISS maintenance technician, 509th Communications Squadron,
Whiteman AFB, Missouri
5. April 2000 – September 2006, Paralegal (Claims, Adverse Actions), NCOIC (Civil Law, Military Justice),
Barksdale AFB, Louisiana (January 2005 – May 2005, Law Office Manager, Balad AB, Iraq)
6. October 2006 – October 2009, Flight Chief, AF Claims Service Center, Kettering (WPAFB), Ohio
(April 2009 – October 2009, NCOIC, Detainee Assessment Branch, Bagram AF, Afghanistan)
7. November 2009 – November 2012, Law Office Superintendent, 48th Fighter Wing, RAF Lakenheath,
United Kingdom
8. November 2012 – August 2015, Law Office Superintendent, 633 Air Base Wing, Joint Base Langley-
Eustis, Virginia
9. August 2015 – Present, Command Paralegal Manager, Air Combat Command, Joint Base Langley-
Eustis, Virginia
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Meritorious Service Medal with three oak leaf clusters
Air Force Commendation Medal with four oak leaf clusters
Air Force Achievement Medal with two oak leaf clusters
2010 USAFE Outstanding Paralegal Senior Noncommissioned Officer
2005 8AF Outstanding Paralegal of the Year
2002 8AF Outstanding Paralegal of the Year
1999 Lt Gen Leo Marquez Award, 509th Communication Squadron
1999 NCO of the Year, 509th Communication Squadron
1992 Honor Graduate, Basic Training
EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION
Airman 17 June 1992
Airman First Class 17 April 1993
Senior Airman (BTZ) 17 December 1994
Staff Sergeant 1 August 1997
Technical Sergeant 1 June 2002
Master Sergeant 1 February 2007
Senior Master Sergeant 1 June 2012
Chief Master Sergeant 1 Apr 2016
(Current as of May 2016)