Thomas R. Richards

During the Vietnam War Ensign Richards (known as the Hulk) was a member of SEAL TEAM ONE and deployed to the Mekong Delta. He was wounded in 1971 and was awarded multiple medals for his valor. * His distinguished 30 year military career went on to include combat leadership command positions in El Salvador and the Persian Gulf.

Throughout his career he commanded Special Boat Unit Thirteen, SEAL TEAM ONE, the Naval Special Warfare Center, and the Naval Special Warfare Command in San Diego with over 5,500 personnel, more than 20 subordinate commands and an annual budget in excess of $550 million. In this position, he was responsible for providing combat ready SEALS and Special Warfare Combat Crew Members to combatant commanders throughout the world, as well as the planning, programming and budgeting for Naval Special Warfare.

Thomas R. Richards retired in from the Navy in 1999 as a highly respected and decorated Rear Admiral. Thomas Richards, BSHS Class of 1965, was inducted into the Bay Shore High School Hall of Fame in 2013.

* See interesting Naval History Magazine article “Conspicuous Gallantry Under Fire” published in April 2020.