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Richard Gadek — the 2019 Grand Marshall:
Richard was raised in River Forest and went through Willard, Roosevelt and OPRF. After graduating from OPRF he enlisted in the Air Force in March of 2002. He had the following training prior to deployment :
- Basic training at Lackland AFB, Texas
- Air traffic control fundamentals course at Keesler AFB in Keesler, Mississippi
- Air traffic control radar apprentice course at Keesler AFB, Mississippi
- Richard was deployed in December 2005 to Osan Air Base in Korea for leadership school
- Richard then went to the 97th operations support Squadron at Altus AFB, Oklahoma
- Richard was assigned to the 407th Expeditionary Operations Support Squadron at Tallil Air Base, Iraq
- Richard's next assignment was to the 51st Operations Support Squadron at Osan Air Base, Korea
- Following the above assignment Richard was a air traffic control radar watch supervisor for the 374th Operations Support Squadron at Yokota Air Base, Japan
- Richard's next assignment was as air traffic control radar watch supervisor for the 39th Operations Squadron at Incirlik Air Base, Turkey
- Richard was then assigned tobe an air traffic control watch supervisor for the 332nd Expeditionary Operations support Squadron at Balard Air Base, Iraq
Richard's awards and decorations are:
- Air Force Achievement medal for outstanding achievement November 2009
- Air Force Achievement medal for meritorious service March 2006
- Air Force Achievement medal for meritorious service March 2005
- Meritorious unit award
- Air Force outstanding unit award with two oak cluster
- Air Force good conduct medal with one oak leaf cluster
- National defense service medal
- Iraq campaign medal with two service Stars
- Global war on terrorism service medal
- Korean defense service medal
- Air Force overseas ribbon short tour with one oak leaf cluster
- Air force overseas ribbon long tour
- Air force expeditionary service ribbon with gold border
- Air Force longevity service award
- USAF NCO professional military education graduate
- USAF training ribbon
Richard ended his military service in the Air Force in March 2010 with the rank of Staff Sergeant.
