After 40 years engineer flight chief retires Published Dec. 12, 2007 By Murray Bouquet 7th Civil Engineer Squadron DYESS AIR FORCE BASE, Texas -- One of the longest serving federal government employees will be retiring Jan. 31, after serving for more than 40 years. Billy D. Rich, 7th Civil Engineer Squadron Engineering Flight chief recently announced his retirement. He has been a part of Team Dyess since March 1967. The time he spent at Dyess is something his wife and him will always remember, Mr. Rich said. "The military and civilian personnel that I have worked with at Dyess and headquarters over the past 40 years have been truly professional" Mr. Rich said. "I count all of the friendships to be a blessing; and it made the work a rewarding experience. Betty and I have lived and worked in Abilene/Dyess community because we both consider this a great place to live and work. We choose to continue our retirement years in Abilene and be in touch with our circle of friends and the Air Force community." Mr. Rich has also made an impression on those around him. "I have had the distinct privilege of working for, as a peer nearby and more recently as Billy's supervisor for 28 years now; and I can think of no single individual who has contributed more to further the missions and careers of Dyess and its personnel," said Mike Schultz, 7th Civil Engineering Squadron deputy commander. "His fingerprints are all over this installation; and as such Dyess has had the luxury of being in very good hands for the past 40 years. He is simply an icon in the Air Force planning and engineering career field. We will miss him immensely and wish the very best retirement can bring to him and his family." Billy accepted federal employment with Dyess in March 1967, as a contract programmer for the programs branch, program development section. In August 1975, he was promoted to chief, program development section. In October 1978, under Air Force Civil Engineering reorganization was reassigned as chief environmental and Contract Planning in the Engineering Branch. In March 1980, was promoted to current position as chief, engineering flight. During his career he has managed the planning, design and construction management of numerous renovation and repair projects, and more than 100 new construction projects at Dyess. Most notably are the new support facilities for the B-1 bed down and the first USAF total military family housing privatization initiative. Since 1996, Dyess has won four Air Combat Command Best Engineering Flight awards and two USAF Best Engineering Flight Runner-up Awards. During the past ten years his Flight has won ten ACC, one AMC, and 2 USAF design awards. Mr. Rich was a past President of the Northeast Chapter of American Society of Civil Engineers and the Dyess Society of American Military Engineers. He is the winner of the 1980 & 1986 Strategic Air Command Civilian Meritorious Awards, and the winner of the 1980 & 1986 USAF Civil Engineering Meritorious Achievement Awards (Civilian). A retirement luncheon is scheduled to be held at 11 a.m, Dec. 17, at the Hangar Center ballroom.Anyone wishing to attend shoul call Maria Hartsfield at 696-2250 or Tech. Sgt. Rebecca DiLoreto at 696-5641.