Maj. Gen. Richard Comer (USAF-Ret) spent 32 years on active duty, 17 of which were in Special Operations. He flew Air Force helicopters, seeing combat in Southeast Asia, Southwest Asia, the Balkans, and in Operation Just Cause. He commanded at squadron, group, and wing level in Air Force Special Ops and also had a tour as the deputy commander of JSOC. He was the vice commander of AFSOC for more than two years, which included the initial Afghan campaign after 9/11. He served as the first J5, Director of Policy and Planning, for U.S. NORTHCOM when it was created a year later, and finished his career as the Director of the Coalition Coordination Center at CENTCOM.