Award winner volunteers for unique opportunity

  • Published
  • By Justin Oakes
  • 56th Fighter Wing public Affairs
LUKE AIR FORCE BASE, Ariz. --  When a B-course student needs help working on their G-force tolerance...or, when an accident and safety board needs an expert for G-related Class A mishaps, whom do they go to? 

No other than Luke Air Force Base's director of aerospace physiology, Capt. Richard Farley. 

Captain Farley's expertise was recognized this past weekend in Washington D.C., when he received the 2008 Air Force Company Grade Aerospace Physiologist Award. 

While Farley's four years at Luke has earned him multiple awards and recognition among peers, it was his most recent deployment that set him apart. 

The 451st Air Expeditionary Group in Kandahar Airfield, Afghanistan, was in need of a chief of flight safety, and Captain Farley jumped in both feet forward. 

"I quickly volunteered for this assignment," Captain Farley said. "It is rare for a nonrated medical officer to fill this type of billet in a combat group." 

Even with a 15-year combat rescue helicopter background, there were still some boxes that needed to be checked before the captain could begin his four-and-a-half-month deployment in Afghanistan. He traveled to Kirtland Air Force Base, N.M., to attend Safety Officer School and the one-month training course that would help him prepare for the Joint Expeditionary Tasking. 

Many of Captain Farley's duties in Kandahar were similar to that of his roles at Luke. Supporting investigations in Class A mishaps, conducting crash/fire/rescue training and revitalizing safety programs, such as animal mitigation, were just a few of the captain's contributions. 

"Working with 17 other NATO nations and participating in casualty evacuation missions was a definite highlight during my tour," Captain Farley said. 

U.S. Air Force safety management oversight in Kandahar contributed to the success of more than 2,200 missions, 20,000 hours and equated to more than 400 saves, assists and escorts supporting coalition operations. 

"In my 24 years of service, this was one of my best experiences," Captain Farley said. "This deployment provided an opportunity to serve in a very unique capacity."