Oswego Resident Lt. Col. Benjamin Richardson To Take Command of New York Army National Guard Battalion

Afghan War veteran will lead cavalry squadron with elements in Jamestown, Geneva, Buffalo and Niagara Falls

Related Media

Lt. Col. Benjamin Richardson on patrol in Afghanistan in 2008. (Courtesy Lt. Col. Benjamin Richardson)

NIAGARA FALLS AIR RESERVE STATION, NY (08/24/2012)(readMedia)-- New York Army National Guard Lt. Col. Benjamin Richardson, an Oswego resident and Afghan War veteran, has been picked to take command of the 2nd Squadron of the 101st Cavalry Regiment.

The New York Army National Guard unit of about 350 Soldiers, headquartered at Niagara Falls Air Reserve Station, has elements in Geneva, Jamestown, and Buffalo. The squadron is the reconnaissance element for the Syracuse-based 27th Infantry Brigade Combat Team.

Richardson will take over from Lt. Col. Bob Williams.

Richardson, a Social Studies teacher at Oswego High School in civilian life, has served in the New York Army National Guard since 1990. He deployed to Afghanistan in 2008 and 2009 as the leader of a Provincial Police Monitoring Team working with Afghan police officers.

Richardson will take command of the unit during a Sept. 15 ceremony at the Headquarters.

Richardson received his commission through the Officers Candidate School program.

He has held a variety of positions during his military career to include infantry and scout platoon leader, infantry and cavalry company commander, a plans and operations officer, intelligence officer, and strategic plans officer at the battalion, brigade and division level. His most recent assignment was as a liaison officer of the 42nd Infantry Division.

Along with his year-long combat tour in Afghanistan, Richardson served as the commander of the National Guard airport security detail in Rochester from October to December 2001 following the attacks of Sept. 11, 2001. He Also served as the intelligence officer for the 1,500-member National Guard force mobilized to help provide security during the 2004 Republican National Convention in New York City.

Richardson holds a Bachelor of Arts in History, Government and International Relations from Cornell University and a Masters of Military Studies in Unconventional Warfare from American Military University.

Richardson's awards include the Bronze Star Medal, the Combat Infantryman's Badge, the Afghanistan Campaign Medal, the Army Commendation Medal, the NATO Medal, the National Defense Service Medal, the New York State Physical Fitness Medal and the New York State Humanitarian Service Medal.

He and his wife Nancy Richardson have a daughter, Claire and a son, Dane.