The Flying Richardsons
We spoke to the FAA’s Gene Richardson III about the legacy of his father, a Tuskegee Airman, and the endless possibilities in aviation.
In honor of Black History Month, we are privileged to share the story of the Richardsons, a family whose legacy in flight first began at an airshow in 1930 and continues to flourish today at the FAA’s Dallas Certificate Management Office (CMO).
At that 1930 airshow in Mansfield, Ohio, young Eugene J. Richardson, Jr. watched a group of Black aviators perform. From that point on, he saw what was possible and he knew what he wanted to do. He took his first steps towards that dream at age 17, when he passed his first pilot qualification test. He then completed basic training at Tuskegee Army Airfield, gunnery training at Eglin Air Base, and combat training — including learning to fly P-40s and P-47s — at Walterboro Army Airfield. He graduated as part of the Tuskegee Airmen, the first group of Black fighter pilots to engage in combat for the United States.
When he was honorably discharged in 1946, Eugene didn’t pursue a career in aviation. There were simply no additional opportunities available to him. Instead, he returned to Philadelphia and earned his high school diploma, as well as his bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral degrees in education. Dr. Richardson had a very successful career as a middle school teacher and principal in the Philadelphia school system. He told his students, “Along with your As and Bs in school, you need three Ds. You need to dream. You need to desire to make that dream real. And then you need discipline. You need the self-discipline to keep yourself on track to make that dream come true.”
Dr. Richardson provided an incredible example of bravery, strength, and perseverance for the children whose lives he impacted on a daily basis. Even after retiring, Dr. Richardson continued to share his story as a speaker on behalf of the Tuskegee Airmen. We’ll never know how many children decided to dream a little bigger after hearing Dr. Richardson speak. Yet no child was more inspired than his son, Eugene J. Richardson, III, “Gene,” who had a front row seat to this remarkable life and aspired to lead one of his own.
Gene is currently on a detail as a front line manager in the Dallas Fort Worth CMO. He has only been with the FAA for a few years, but he has been personally involved in aviation for over 48 years. He joined the FAA after retiring from impressive careers as both a United States Marine Corps aviator and American Airlines captain.
We asked Gene to reflect on his father’s influence, his own aviation career spanning two very different venues, and the advice he gives to young Black men and women seeking to follow in his family’s footsteps.
Your father inspired you to pursue aviation, but — based on his own experience — did he also express concern that your opportunities may be limited?
My father never expressed that I would encounter limitations or restrictions. In fact, it was just the opposite. He grew up during the Great Depression, and served during World War II. He experienced segregation, Jim Crow and the Civil Rights movement. His actions and the actions of the Tuskegee Airmen created opportunities for men like Jesse Brown (first Black Navy pilot-1946), Frank E. Petersen (first Black Marine pilot and General Officer-1950), Captain Marlon Green (Continental Airlines-1962) and Captain Dave Harris (American Airlines-1963). So by the time I began my flying career, all the barriers were gone. All I had to do was perform to the best of my ability.
You’ve had a very accomplished aviation career in your own right — what are you the most proud of in your career?
First, I’m proud that in thousands of flight hours and operations, military and passenger, I’ve flown safely as a pilot in command. I’ve never had an accident or even scratched the paint on an airplane. But I’m most proud of my legacy in aviation. We are a small community. I spent the majority of time as an instructor pilot, military and airline. Your reputation stands out, good or bad. I’m proud that I ended 45 years of actually flying and instructing other aviators with a good legacy, reputation and safety record.
The number of Black pilots in the U.S. military, which is a big source of commercial pilots, is still very low. You had long, successful careers in both settings — what do you attribute your individual success to?
Staying focused on the immediate task in front of me, not getting distracted by issues that were not about mastering the airplane or related subject matter, and having a thick skin to criticism. Flying can be very unforgiving if you are not precise and focused. So those that teach you are, by nature, extremely critical of your performances. It’s not personal; it’s to ensure you survive. Always seeking input from others who were where I wanted to be. Asking how I could improve or increase my knowledge to get there.
What advice would you give to young Black men and women who are considering a career in aviation?
Aviation is the “gift that keeps on giving.” There are so many aspects and phases. Find a mentor! This is my 48th year in the profession and I’m still learning every day. From simulated dogfighting and dropping bombs, to flying passengers, and now to safety oversight — every experience contributed something that helped at the next step in this journey. Pick one of the many paths in aviation, seek to be the best in that area through training and education, and be willing to be mentored. The acting Administrator Billy Nolen and I were pilots and instructors together at American Airlines; he chose safety management and I chose flight training and operations. The possibilities are endless.
