Colonel Richard D. Boatman is the Commander, 4th Maintenance Group, Seymour Johnson Air Force Base, North Carolina. Colonel Boatman commands all on/off-equipment maintenance operations for the largest F-15E Fighter Wing in the Air Force. He maintains, mobilizes, deploys and sustains 94 F-15E aircraft and associated equipment for worldwide expeditionary aerospace operations and F-15E aircrew training. The 4th Maintenance Group generates 15,000 sorties and 24,000 hours annually.
Col Boatman received his commission in December 1998 from the Reserve Officer Training Corps. He has held aircraft maintenance positions at flight, squadron, group, and headquarters Air Staff. He has combat deployments to Afghanistan, as a Deputy Group Commander/Air Advisor and as a Squadron Commander. He holds acquisitions professional development program level III certification in Lifecycle Logistics, level I certification in Program Management and is a member of the Acquisition Corps. Col Boatman is a graduated group commander and three-time squadron commander that has led units which have captured AF level wins for maintenance effectiveness and the CSAF Team Excellence Award.
EDUCATION
1998 Bachelor of Arts, California State University, San Bernardino
2004 Squadron Officer School, Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala.
2008 Level III Life Cycle Logistics certification
2009 Air Command and Staff College, Maxwell AFB, Ala., by correspondence
2012 Master of Military Operational Art and Science, Air Command and Staff College, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
2019 Senior Developmental Education, Air War College, by correspondence.
ASSIGNMENTS
1. February 1999–May 1999, Special Assistant to the Command, Air Force ROTC Southwest Region Cal State University
2. May 1999–April 2000, Student, Navigator Training, Naval Air Station Pensacola, Fla.
3. April 2000–April 2001, Sortie Support Flight Commander, 336th Fighter Squadron, Seymour Johnson Air Force Base, N.C.
4. April 2001–June 2002, Assistant Sortie Generation Flight Commander, 336th Fighter Squadron, Seymour Johnson AFB, N.C.
5. June 2002–April 2003, Fabrication Flight Commander, 4th Equipment Maintenance Squadron, Seymour Johnson AFB, N.C.
6. April 2003–April 2005, 13th Aircraft Maintenance Unit Officer in Charge, 35th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, Misawa AB, Japan
7 .April 2005–July 2006, Maintenance Operations Flight Commander, 35th Maintenance Operations Squadron, Misawa AB, Japan
8. July 2006–July 2008, USAF Logistics Career Broadening Program, Ogden Air Logistics Center, Hill AFB, Utah
9. July 2008–July 2009, Deputy Chief, Commanders Action Group, Ogden Air Logistics Center, Hill AFB, Utah15. May 2016–June 2017, Commander, 455 Expeditionary Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, Bagram AB, Afghanistan
10. July 2009–November 2009, Operations Officer, 506th Combat Sustainment Squadron, Ogden Air Logistics Center, Hill AFB, Utah
11. November 2009–September 2011, Commander, 48th Component Maintenance Squadron, RAF Lakenheath, England
12. September 2011–July 2012, Student, Air Command and Staff College, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
13. July 2012–July 2014, Commander, 372d Training Squadron, Sheppard AFB, Texas
14. July 2014–May 2016, Chief, Maintenance Functional Policy Branch, Air Staff, Pentagon, Washington D.C.
15. May 2016-June 2017, Commander, 455 Expeditionary Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, Bagram AB, Afghanistan
16. June 2017-July 2018, Executive Officer, Director of Logistics, Air Staff, Pentagon, Washington D.C.
17. July 2018-July 2020, Deputy Commander, 96th Maintenance Group, Eglin AFB, Fla.
18. July 2020-July 2021, Military Advisor to Deputy Director, Engineering Office of the Secretary of Defense, Pentagon, Washington, D.C.
19. July 2021–July 2023, Commander, 76th Commodities Maintenance Group, Tinker AFB, OK
20. August 2023–July 2024, Division Chief, Air Mobility Command Maintenance Division, Scott AFB, IL
21. August 2024-Current, Commander, 4th Maintenance Group, Seymour Johnson Air Force Base, N.C.
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Legion of Merit with oak leaf cluster
Bronze Star Medal with oak leaf cluster
Meritorious Service Medal with four oak leaf clusters
Commendation Medal with oak leaf cluster
Achievement Medal with oak leaf cluster
Outstanding Unit Award with three oak leaf clusters
Organizational Excellence Award
Air Force Recognition Ribbon
Afghanistan Campaign Medal
North Atlantic Treaty Organization Medal
Distinguished Graduate Air Force ROTC
Distinguished Graduate Aircraft Maintenance Officer Course
AF Welsh Award for Excellence in Acquisition Management
AFSC Depot Maintenance Manager of the Year for 2022
EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION
Second Lieutenant, January 17, 1999
First Lieutenant, January 17, 2001
Captain, January 17, 2003
Major, September 1, 2008
Lieutenant Colonel, February 1, 2014
Colonel, May 1, 2020
(Current as of Oct 2024)