Col. Richard Graham, USAF (Ret.)

Air Force Col. Richard Graham (Ret.) flew the Lockheed SR-71 Blackbird from 1974-1981.  He was the SR-71 Squadron Commander in 1981, later becoming the 9th Wing Commander at Beale AFB.  Prior to flying the SR-71, he flew 210 combat missions in Vietnam in the F-4 and as a Wild Weasals pilot, trolling for surface-to-air missile (SAM) systems.  Colonel Graham’s military decorations include three Legion of Merit awards, four Distinguished Flying Cross medals, and 19 Air Medals.  He was the 1999 recipient of the University of Nebraska’s William F. Shea Award and in 2005 he was awarded the Kelly Johnson trophy.