Brigadier General Richard D. Joyce graduated from Florida State University and was commissioned in December 1995. After completing The Basic School, he reported for flight training at NAS Pensacola, Florida. He was designated a Naval Aviator on 7 August 1998 and reported to MCAS Camp Pendleton, California for instruction as an AH-1W attack helicopter pilot at HMT-303 “Atlas.”
Operational Assignments: HMLA-369 “Gunfighters” completing three deployments including HMM-262(REIN) and the 31st MEU in 2000, Unit Deployment Program in 2002, and HMM-163(REIN) and the 13th MEU deploying to OIF and OEF from 2003-2004; the “Six Guns” of B Company 1st Battalion 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment (Airborne) deploying numerous times to OIF and OEF from 2004-2007 as an AH-6J/M Fully Mission Qualified pilot; HMLA-169 “Vipers” deploying twice to OEF from 2008-2011; Commanding Officer of HMLA-469 “Vengeance” from 2012- 2014; and the Commanding Officer of MAG-29 “War Eagles” from 2021-2023.
Staff Assignments: Headquarters Marine Corps Aviation - Aviation Policy, Programs, Budgeting, and Congressional Affairs Branch (APP); Director of the Commandant’s Staff Group for the 37th Commandant of the Marine Corps, General Robert B. Neller; Expeditionary Air Warfare Branch Head at OPNAV N98; and the Assistant Chief of Staff for Safety & Standardization at 2d MAW.
Joint Assignments: Division Chief, Individual Training Division, Directorate of Force Management and Development at U.S. Special Operations Command.
Brigadier General Joyce has accumulated over 3,600 military flight hours in multiple airframes. He is a graduate of the Weapons and Tactics Instructor (WTI) Course, Distinguished Graduate from Marine Corps Command and Staff College earning a Master of Military Studies, and graduated with Highest Distinction from the Naval War College earning a Master of Arts in National Security and Strategic Studies.
Brigadier General Joyce’s personal decorations include the Defense Superior Service Medal, Legion of Merit with 2 Gold Stars, Distinguished Flying Cross with “V”, Bronze Star, Meritorious Service Medal, Air Medal with “V” Gold Numeral 3 and Strike/Flight Numeral 26, Joint Service Commendation Medal, Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal, Joint Service Achievement Medal, and the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal.