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Wall of Honor Level:
Air and Space Friend

Honored by:
Caroline Hamilton

Richard O. Hamilton (Rick), son of Carlton W. (Sam) Hamilton (Wall honoree 24/1/2/27) and Doris Hamilton, developed a love of aviation early. Rick's father worked at Chattanooga (CHA) and Miami International Airport (MIA), eventually becoming the FAA Operations Officer at MIA, and later Tower Chief at Opa-Locka (OPF). The Eastern Airlines DC-3 (N-18124) hanging in the NASM was the first aircraft Sam worked as an air traffic controller.

Rick attended Florida State University, earning Bachelors and Master degrees. Upon graduation in 1967, Rick accepted a position with Department of Defense in Maryland. In 1971, Rick enlisted in the US Navy, serving in the Naval Security Group. After his tour, he returned to his DoD civilian position and later moved to Los Angeles, CA, on loan to the USAF Office of Special Projects (SAFSP). He left the DOD after over 7 years at SAFSP, and worked for a small aerospace company, helping establish a new business area. In 1983, Rick accepted a position with Hughes Aircraft Company?€™s Space and Communications Group?€™s (SCG) Advanced Programs Lab. During that time he worked on independent research and development as a member of the SCG Invention Evaluation Committee, and new business. During that time he had the honor to meet NASA?€™s Sally Ride (HS-376 Mission: Recovery) and Hughes employee Greg Jarvis who was sadly lost in the Challenger disaster in 1986. Rick?€™s wife Caroline worked in the DirecTV program office during this time.

General Motors purchased much of Hughes and later sold most of it to Boeing and Raytheon, where Rick remained until his retirement in 2006. During his GM/Raytheon career, he worked on aerospace defense and intelligence programs, including large scale program and engineering management.

Rick earned a Private Pilot's license in 1977, an Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) rating in 1980, and a Commercial Pilot?€™s license in 1981. He logged over 648 hours until he stopped flying in 1999, but not before he logged .3 hours at the controls of N-4A, better known as the Goodyear Blimp. Many years later, Caroline, who was then working for Lockheed Martin in Virginia, got Rick an invitation to log some time in their F-22 Raptor and F-35 Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) simulators.

Rick's love for aviation continues. Rick's aviation friendships continued as well, including Wall Honorees David McFarland (63/4/1/13), Ty Park (63/4/1/23), Larry Roberts (17/3/2/101), and Dan Gist (64/1/1/22).