Lt. Col. Converse promoted
By News-Argus Staff
Published in News on February 1, 2004 2:01 AM
BARKSDALE AIR FORCE BASE, La. -- Lt. Col. Richard "Rick" H. Converse has assumed command of the 2nd Communications Squadron at Barksdale Air Force Base, La.
He is the son of Roland and Royann Converse of Goldsboro and is a graduate of Bowling Green State University in Ohio.
Converse's most recent assignment prior to being made commander was at the Pentagon as executive officer for the director of command control, communications, intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance infostructure for the deputy chief of staff at the Warfighting Integration, Headquarters for the Air Force.
As executive officer, he directed all executive and administrative support for a 567-person Air Staff directorate. As commander of the 2nd Communications Squadron, he will lead 270 military and civilian communications-information systems experts in maintaining the base communications infrastructure valued at over $60 million.
His unit also provides mail delivery, information assurance, photographs, video, publishing, video teleconferencing and graphical support base-wide.
Converse developed software to help detect scud missile launches during Operation Desert Storm. Later, while at a classified location, he directed the day-to-day maintenance of an operational tactical warning squadron with the mission to alert Cheyenne Mountain and the president of any foreign missile launches.
Converse also directed all joint communications support for U.S. Military commanders in Bosnia.
He wears the master communications-electronics badge, senior space badge and the basic acquisition badge.
He is married to Julia Eckart of Tampa, Fla., and they have a son, Joseph.