Colonel Richard Allen Skovgaard Usaf (Ret)

Colonel Richard A. Skovgaard passed away on the morning of February 8, 2020 at William Childs Hospice House in Palm Bay, FL with his wife, Beverly, and daughter, Erica, by his side. Colonel Skovgaard was born in 1937 in Fullerton, ND. He was the youngest of nine children of Emil and Sarah Skovgaard. At age seven his family moved to North Branch, MN where he grew up on a dairy farm. He was a graduate of North Branch High School. Immediately after graduating he enlisted in the Air Force after which he applied to the Aviation Cadet Program, graduating number one in his class. He was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant and was stationed at Seymour Johnson AFB in Goldsboro, NC flying the KC-135. While there he met and married his wife Beverly (Stentz). During his 33 years in the Air Force he flew the KC-135, the F-100, was a highly decorated combat veteran in Vietnam flying the O-2 as a FAC. While at March AFB, he commanded the 22nd ARFES, additionally , he commanded the 22nd Security Police Squadron, and also served as Base Commander. While these commands were served at different times it demonstrates the confidence that the Air Force had in his command and leadership skills as well as his diversity across many disciplines. He served under the Joint Chiefs of Staff at the Pentagon. Next, he achieved his career goal commanding the 376th Strategic Wing in Okinawa, Japan. His final career assignment, prior to retirement, he served as the Inspector General of Headquarters EUCOM in Stuttgart, Germany. Unable to settle into an easy retirement he continued his aviation addiction by beginning his second career at Flight Safety International in Vero Beach, FL. He became Director of Training , then Center Manager in 1995. In 2015 Dick and Beverly moved to Indian River Colony Club in Melbourne, FL. He is survived by his wife, Beverly, his daughter Erica Skovgaard, his son Michael Skovgaard, two granddaughters, Amber Skovgaard and Britany Reichardt, two great granddaughters, Ashlyn Graves and Rylie Reichardt, and three step grandchildren, Tara Williams, and David and Corinna Milstein. A memorial service will be held at Beckman-Williamson Funeral Homes, 5400 Village Drive, Viera, FL at 10:30 AM on Wednesday February 19th, 2020. In lieu of flowers, please make memorial donations to the William Childs Hospice House, c/o Health First Foundation, 1350 South Hickory St., Melbourne, FL 32901 or visit hfgive.org.