Brig Gen Richard D. Hunt is the Commander of the Maryland Air National Guard and the Assistant Adjutant General - Air, at Warfield Air National Guard Base, Middle River, Maryland. He also serves as the Air National Guard Assistant to the Director of Operations, United States Air Forces Europe - Air Forces Africa (USAFE-AFAFRICA) A310.
As Commander of the Maryland Air National Guard, Brig Gen Hunt sets the strategic vision and intent for all subordinate units to ensure alignment with the National Defense Strategy. The primary missions he leads include full spectrum cyberspace operations, delivering offensive and defensive dominance across cyberspace, and executing signals intelligence expertise. For domestic operations, he ensures the organization is always ready for stateside emergency response when called. Brig Gen Hunt serves as the principal advisor to the Governor and Adjutant General of Maryland on all matters pertaining to the Maryland Air National Guard, ensuring the readiness of more than 1,500 personnel, prepared to execute both federal and state missions. In his dual-hat role as Assistant to the Director of Operations, USAFE-AFAFRICA A310, Brig Gen Hunt assists the director to advise and oversee all Air Force operations across Europe and Africa.
Brig Gen Hunt graduated from Embry Riddle Aeronautical University in 1997 and was commissioned in February 1999 at the Air National Guard Academy of Military Science. He earned his aeronautical rating at EURO- NATO Joint Jet Pilot Training in June 2000 and graduated from the Air Force Weapons School in 2005. He has commanded an A-10 Operations Group, A-10 Maintenance Group, and Operations Support Squadron. Brig Gen Hunt is an A-10 instructor with previous assignments as a Fighter Squadron, Group, and Wing Weapons Officer. He has served as the NGB/A8 Planning and Programming Cyber and Space Branch Chief at the Air National Guard Readiness Center, Joint Base Andrews, Md. In 2018, Brig Gen Hunt completed his Senior Developmental Education at the US Army War College at Carlisle Barracks, Pa, earning a Master’s Degree in Strategic Studies. Prior to his current assignment, Brig Gen Hunt was the Vice Commander of the 175th Wing, Maryland Air National Guard.
In his civilian capacity, Brig Gen Hunt is a pilot with a major airline. He has more than 4,000 military flying hours, including over 1000 A-10 combat hours. He has served in 7 contingency deployments supporting Operations SOUTHERN WATCH, ENDURING FREEDOM, IRAQI FREEDOM, INHERENT RESOLVE, and FREEDOM’S SENTINEL.
EDUCATION
1997 Bachelor of Science, Aeronautical Science, Embry Riddle Aeronautical University, Daytona Beach, Fla. 2007 Squadron Officer School, Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala., by correspondence
2012 Air Command and Staff College, Maxwell AFB, Ala., by correspondence
2013 Intermediate Development Course (IDC), Air National Guard Readiness Center, Joint Base Andrews, Md. 2013 Fiscal Year Defense Plan (FYDP) Course, Headquarters Air Force, Arlington, Va.
2018 United States Army War College, Carlisle Barracks, Pa.
2018 Master of Science in Strategic Studies, United States Army War College, Carlisle Barracks, Pa. 2019 Commander Development Course, Air National Guard Readiness Center, JB Andrews, Md.
2019 Safety & Accident Investigation Board President Course, Air National Guard Readiness Center, JB Andrews, Md.
2019 Joint Air Component Commander Element Course, Air National Guard Readiness Center, JB Andrews, Md.
2025 Reserve Component National Security Course, National Defense University, Washington, DC.
2025 General and Flag Officer Homeland Security Course, Harvard Kennedy School of Government, Cambridge, Ma.
ASSIGNMENTS
- May 1999–June 2000, Student, EURO-NATO Joint Jet Pilot Training, Sheppard Air Force Base, Texas
- October 2000–April 2001, Student, A-10/OA-10 Fighter Training Unit, Davis-Monthan AFB, Ariz.
- April 2001–December 2004, A-10/OA-10 Instructor Pilot, 104th Fighter Squadron, Warfield Air National Guard Base, Md.
- January 2005–June 2005, Student, Weapons Instructor Course 05AIV, 66th Weapons Squadron, Nellis AFB, Nev.
- June 2005–January 2013, Chief of Weapons and Tactics, Chief of Current Operations, Assistant Director of Operations, 175th Operations Support Squadron, Warfield ANGB, Md.
- February 2013–April 2014, Cyber and Space Branch Chief, NGB/A8, Air National Guard Readiness Center, JB Andrews, Md.
- April 2014–June 2014, 175th Wing Commander’s Project Officer, Warfield ANGB, Md.
- June 2014–June 2017, Commander, 175th Operations Support Squadron, Warfield ANGB, Md.
- June 2017–June 2018, Student, United States Army War College, Carlisle, Pa.
- June 2018–June 2019, Deputy Commander, 175th Operations Group, Warfield ANGB, Md.
- June 2019–September 2020, Commander, 175th Operations Group, Warfield ANGB, Md.
- April 2020–September 2020, Commander, Acting 175th Maintenance Group, Warfield ANGB, Md.
- September 2020–June 2023 Vice Commander, 175th Wing, Warfield ANGB, Md.
- December 2021–September 2025, A-10 Weapon System Council Chair, Air National Guard Readiness Center, JB Andrews, Md.
- June 2023–December 2025, Commander, 175th Wing, Warfield ANGB, Md.
- December 2025–Present, Commander, Maryland Air National Guard and Assistant Adjutant General-Air, Warfield ANGB, Md.
FLIGHT INFORMATION
Rating: Command Pilot
Flight Hours: More than 4,000 including more than 1,000 combat hours Aircraft Flown: T-37, T-38, AT-38, F-16D, OA-10A/C, and A-10A/C
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Legion of Merit
Meritorious Service Medal with three oak leaf clusters
Air Medal with seventeen oak leaf clusters with “C” device
Air Force Commendation Medal with “C” device Air Force Achievement Medal with oak leaf cluster
OTHER ACHIEVEMENTS
2000 Air Education Training Command Flying Excellence Award 2000 Air Education Training Command Commander’s Trophy
2000 Air Education Training Command Distinguished Graduate Award 2000 Air Combat Command A-10 Top Gun Award
2000 Air Combat Command A-10 Distinguished Graduate Award 2005 USAF Weapons Instructor Course Top Graduate Award
2005 USAF Weapons Instructor Course Distinguished Graduate Award 2005 USAF Weapons Instructor Course Academic Award 2018 US Army War College Superior Graduate Award
EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION
Second Lieutenant Feb. 25, 1999
First Lieutenant Feb. 26, 2001
Captain March 15, 2003
Major June 2, 2007
Lieutenant Colonel June 28, 2012
Colonel Aug. 15, 2019
Brigadier General Feb. 12, 2025
(Current as of Dec 2025)