SEYMOUR JOHNSON AIR FORCE BASE, N.C. -- Richard Lambert, 4th Fighter Wing community support coordinator, joined the Air Force in 1977, retired after 21 years of active duty service and returned to Seymour Johnson Air Force Base as a federal civil service employee for 17 additional years.
Lt. Col. Ryan Ismirle, currently the 333rd Fighter Squadron director of operations, worked as the 4th Fighter Wing director of staff when he first met Lambert.
“He would always tell me how much he liked being out in his yard and seeing the F-15E Strike Eagles fly overhead and how it’s always been a dream of his to fly,” said Ismirle.
Lambert’s dream came true on August 28, 2017, when Ismirle flew Lambert over North Carolina and the Atlantic Ocean in a Strike Eagle. Lambert received the ride of his life, flew inverted, pulled a few G’s, and reached supersonic speed.
“It was out of this world amazing,” said Lambert. “The public only sees the coolness of aviation, they don’t see what goes into making that flight happen, all of the behind the scenes Airmen prepping that jet, the operations side planning the missions, all of the training these pilots have to go through, they don’t see how hard these guys work.”
Lambert bumped his head on one of the canopy hooks of the Strike Eagle, requiring him to receive four stiches, which he sees as a tribute to the 4th Fighter Wing.
“He was the proud recipient of what we call an eagle bite,” said Ismirle. “I was giving him a rundown of the jet when he bumped his head on one of the forward hooks of the canopy.”
Ismirle added he was honored to have been chosen as the pilot to give Lambert a flight in the F-15E.
“As we were walking off of the flight line he told me it was a dream come true and one of his greatest memories of all time,” said Ismirle. “Hearing that and knowing that I got to do that for someone is pretty cool.”
A retirement ceremony in Lambert’s honor was held, Aug. 29, 2017, which included a congregation of Lambert’s family and friends.
“Mr. Lambert exudes class,” said Kent Watson, 333rd Fighter Squadron unit program coordinator. “He’s a caretaker but does it with a lot of leadership qualities.”
Watson added, when he was transitioning from active duty military to the civilian work force, Lambert offered advice which gave Watson the confidence to network and find a civilian job on base.
During his military career, Lambert was stationed in Japan, Kansas, Germany and New Hampshire, before reaching his final duty station of Seymour Johnson AFB.
“I got here in 1990 and spent the rest of my military career here,” said Lambert. “I would say my major career accomplishment would have to be working at the 4th Fighter Wing headquarters and fulfilling the duties I am tasked with.”
Lambert served as the Community Support Coordinator which included being the resiliency program administrator, chair of the Integrated Delivery System and executive officer for the Commander’s Action Investigation Board meetings.
“Of my duties, what rises to the top is having led the resiliency program,” said Lambert. “It is everything a commander, a first sergeant, a leader and a supervisor does to take care of our people to make our mission happen.”
Lambert added the resiliency program consists of mental, social, physical and spiritual domains. It is helping each Airman be as sharp as they can be through strong unit leadership, mentorship and trainings.
“I look to him when it comes to all things about resiliency,” said Ismirle.
Lambert’s post retirement plans include relaxing for a few months before looking into doing consultant work.
“For the first six months I’m going to use my property in Colorado, travel with my wife and spend some time with my grandkids,” said Lambert.
Lambert’s wife of 37 years, Madalyn Lambert, is also enjoying her own retirement from the military and civil service. Both Richard and Madalyn Lambert served in the United States Air Force and each concluded their military service at Seymour Johnson AFB.
“When we drove through the gates of Seymour Johnson, we thought for sure we would only be here 3 years and then go somewhere else,” said Lambert’s wife. “I can’t believe that we are here to this day, now that our children are grown and we have grandchildren. We’ll never leave, this is home.”