Ricardo Lara

Experience

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  United States Air Force

  May 2002 - Jul 2022

  • Assists in the daily operations of BCC training, execution, and deployments. • Represents Theater Joint Forces Air Component Command/Area Air Defense Commander in planning and execution of joint and bilateral command and control operations for Japan airspace• Leads 8 personnel, 5 unit sections in training, readiness, scheduling, and tactics; oversees initial and mission qualifications continuation training, 11K readiness requirements for 42 squadron members. • Oversees management and deployment of datalink equipment and mission support housing and vehicles.• Liaison between higher headquarters, Japan Air Self Defense Force, and wing unit, integrating joint and combined air operations in accordance with US/Japan security treaties.• Maintains combat mission ready as an evaluator Air Battle Manager with a Senior Director certification on Japan Air Defense Ground Environment system and Battlefield Command, Control, and Communication tactical surveillance system. Show less • Leads 6 joint personnel in $6.23M datalink system employment; directs sector interface operations in support of US/Japan theater sector objectives.• Sector Interface Control Officer; represents Theater Joint Forces Air Component Commander and Area Air Defense Commander in planning and executing joint and bilateral datalink operations for Japan's southwest sector airspace.• Liaison between higher headquarters, Japan Air Self Defense Force, and wing unit, integrating joint and combined air operations in accordance with US/Japan security treaties.• Leads tactical control operations teams and employs Japan Aerospace Ground Environment (JADGE) as combat mission ready Senior Director.• Oversees training of USMC JTAC and HIMARS datalink operations.• Helps integrate US Marine Corps Tactical Air Operations Center into daily flying operations. • Awarded Squadron Field Grade Officer of the Year for leadership. Show less • Air Defense Liaison to the Iraqi Military at the Iraqi Air Defense Operations Center, Baghdad, Iraq, tracking all US air assets in Iraqi airspace.• Air Defense and Training Liaison to the Qatari Air Operations Center and Qatari Emiri Air Force, integrating US and Qatari air assets in training and assisting Qatari airlift operations to support Afghanistan mission.• Liaises with 9 partner nations, 7 Wing Staffs, and 3 components to plan, train, and evaluate regional air defense capabilities.• Leads complex, distributed multi-service, multi-agency team to design and execute joint air defense exercises as the lead forward Air Force-Central Command's exercise planner.• Integrates operational level command and control systems and process; tests joint and combined command and control of Arabian Gulf for air and missile defense. Primary Exercise Director for all Integrated Air Missile Defense Exercises in the AFCENT Area of Responsibility. • Plans, tracks, and briefs regional exercise training events to operation center senior leadership; Air Force-Central Command's representative for all exercise planning conferences. Show less • Executes Fighter Wing Commander's inspection program; validates unit self-assessment programs with 64K compliance items.• Trains, supervises, and directs 213 wing inspection team members and 56 squadron, group, and wing self-assessment program managers.• Directs, plans, and executes nuclear surety and conventional inspections for 3.6K personnel, 34 units, 51 F-16 fighter aircraft and $1.9B in wing assets.• Maintained combat mission ready status as Mission Commander for CRC operations on the Battlefield Command, Control, and Communications system utilizing TPS-75 radar.• Awarded 2017 Wing Staff Agencies Field Grade Officer of the Year. Show less • Organizes, trains, and supervises 84 operators in 11 crew positions employing $170M in Modular Control Equipment.• Manages weekly operations schedule and monitors 12 initial, mission, and continuation qualification training programs.• Leads 3 operations flight commanders and non-commissioned officers in charge and ensures personnel maintain worldwide combat mission ready• Maintained combat mission ready status as a Mission commander for CRC operations utilizing Battlefield Command, Control, and Communications system utilizing TPS-75 radar.• Deploys worldwide as combat mission ready Mission Crew Commander in support of commander tasked operations and contingencies.• Deployed to CENTCOM for command and control operations for AFCENT AOR as CRC Mission Crew Commander (April 2016-October 2016). Show less • Plans/directs initial and mission qualification training for all E-3B/C flyers; responsible for annual production of 600+ Combat AF aircrew members.• Leads six flights and seven staff sections comprising over 160 aircrew members in 15 E-3B/C aircrew specialties.• Directs scheduling, standardization, training, mobility, tactics functions; manages upgrades, PCSs, formal schools.• Plans/directs worldwide deployment of multiple crews, staff, $330M E-3 for Joint Command Staff, combatant commander taskings.• Instructed and evaluated initial Air Surveillance Officer students on the E3 AWACS.• Maintains mission ready status for immediate worldwide deployment as an E-3 Formal Training Unit Evaluator Air Surveillance Officer.• Awarded 552 Air Control Wing's 2017 Field Grade Officer of the 3rd Quarter for duties completed as Detachment Commander for 2 E-3 AWACS temporary duties and associated aircrews. Show less • Conducted Initial Operations Test and Evaluation for the E3G Block 40/45 upgrade program as a certified E3G Air Surveillance Officer.• Leads flight of 71 surveillance personnel; ensures aircrew combat readiness for three different specialties on $330M E-3 AWACS.• Instructed and evaluated Air Surveillance Officers and Senior Surveillance Technicians for the E3 AWACS. Responsible for and supervises the administration of academic, simulator, flight, ground training of flight personnel.• Monitors positional manning levels, projects losses, obtains qualified replacements; administers mentoring and feedback.• Deployed in support of USSOUTHCOM's counter drug operations (October 2012-April 2013).• Maintains combat mission-ready status for worldwide deployment as E-3 Evaluator Air Surveillance Officer. Show less • Commands flight of 40 enlisted USAF/Combat AF aircrew from 4 different specialties operating the $384M E-3 AWACS; Leads upgrade, mission qualification, continuation, and mobility readiness training for all aircrew assigned to flight.• Responsible for career development, OPR/EPRs, awards/decorations, morale, and welfare of assigned flight members.• Assisted the 3 OG Stan/Eval program in charge of E3 Evaluations; Group liaison to Wing Plans; coordinates with 5 squadrons, 60+ members to ensure unit exercise objectives met.• Advises commander on standards and evaluation activities & unit training program effectiveness; provides improvement actions.• Trains academic, simulator, and flight training on the management of air surveillance teams' combat identification.• Instructs and evaluates continuation training for combat mission-ready aircrew in AWACS sensor employment and interoperability; Supervises/instructs mission qualification training to basic qualified Air Surveillance Officers on E-3 employment.• Supervises/leads surveillance team on the $384M AWACS, planning operations with multiservice/national forces.• Maintains combat ready as E-3 Evaluator ASO supporting worldwide higher headquarter taskings/home-station NORAD Homeland Defense commitments.• Planned and executed Northern Air Defense surveillance operations in the Alaska National Region airspace.• Deployed as Battlefield Airborne Communications Node Liaison to CENTCOM to support communications and link operations in AFCENT AOR (Jan 2011-Jun 2011). Show less • Maintained combat mission ready status as Air Surveillance Officer on the E-3 AWACS.• Instructed Air Surveillance Officers on the E-3 AWACS.• Assists in leading a flight of 108 members; ensures combat readiness for 15 different specialties on the $330M E-3.• Deployed in support of CENTCOM and AFCENT operations on the E-3 AWACS (Mar 2007-May 2007 / May 2008-September 2008).• Responsible for and supervises the administration of academic, simulator, flight, ground training of flight personnel.• Monitors positional manning levels/projects losses/obtains qualified replacements; administers mentoring and feedback.• Awarded Air Combat Command's Aircrew Safety Award for duties completed during an in-flight emergency over Southwest Asia, which safely lead to the successful landing of the $330M E-3. Show less • Maintained Combat Mission Ready status as Air Weapons Officer on the E-3 Sentry (AWACS).• Additional duties included flight scheduling for 40 Senior Directors, Air Weapons Officer, and Weapons Directors.• Executes tactical control of assigned aircraft operating in the area of responsibility in the $330M E-3 AWACS.• Assists the Senior Director with air operations planning, surveillance coordination, and weapons management team.• Awarded Air Combat Command's Aircrew Safety Award of Distinction; helped lost civilian pilot recover safely to general use airfield.• Awarded Wing Star Performer as Assistant Officer in Charge of Squadron short-range scheduling. Show less

  • Assistant Director Of Operations / BCC Air Battle Manager - Senior Director

    Sept 2020 - Jul 2022

  • Chief - Sector Interface Control Cell / CRC Air Battle Manager

    Aug 2019 - Sept 2020

  • Director of Inspections

    Apr 2019 - Aug 2019

  • Chief of AFCENT Exercises / Iraqi ADLT / Qatari ADLT

    Apr 2018 - Apr 2019

  • Director of Inspections / CRC Mission Crew Commander

    Nov 2016 - Apr 2018

  • Assistant Director of Operations / CRC Mission Crew Commander

    Oct 2015 - Nov 2016

  • Evaluator Air Surveillance Officer / Assistant Director of Operations

    Nov 2013 - Oct 2015

  • Flight Commander / Evaluator Air Surveillance Officer / Certified E-3G Block 40/45 ASO

    Jan 2012 - Nov 2013

  • Evaluator Air Surveillance Officer / Flight Commander / Deputy OG Stan/Eval

    Oct 2008 - Jan 2012

  • Instructor Air Surveillance Officer, Assistant Flight Commander

    Jan 2007 - Oct 2008

  • Air Surveillance Officer Training Student

    Jun 2006 - Jan 2007

  • Air Weapons Officer, Flight Scheduler

    Apr 2005 - Jun 2006

  • IABMT Student

    Feb 2004 - Apr 2005

  • Undergraduate ABM Student

    May 2002 - Feb 2004
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  European Football Academy Okinawa

  Aug 2019 - Nov 2023

  Assistant Training Coach

  • Provided training direction, encouragement, motivation and team advice to prepare athletes for games, competitive events, and tours.• Contact parents of players to provide information and answer questions.• Adjusted coaching techniques, based on strengths and weaknesses of athletes.• Counseled student athletes on academic, athletic and personal issues.• Analyzed strengths and weaknesses of opposing teams to develop game strategies.• Explained and enforced safety rules and regulations.• Kept abreast of changing rules, techniques, technologies and philosophies relevant to sport.• Arranged and conducted sports-related activities, such as training camps, skill-improvement courses, clinics and pre-season try-outs.• Instructed individuals and groups in sports rules, game strategies and performance principles and strategies to achieve desired results.• Traveled with team to away contests.• Chose team members for individual games and sports seasons.• Organized and conduct practice sessions.• Selected, acquired, stored and issued equipment and game materials.• Coaching Highlights - U9 International Challenge Cup Okinawa Champions 2021 / U12 International Challenge Cup Okinawa Runner's Up 2021 / U9 and U12 International Challenge Cup Okinawa Runner's Up 2022 / Boys U11 and Boys U12 Donosti Cup San Sebastian Spain Champions League Round of 16 / Boys U15 Donosti Cup San Sebastian Spain Europa Round of 8. Show less

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  Night Ravens FC

  Aug 2023 - Jan 2024

  Head Coach, U12 - U10
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  European Football Academy - West Texas

  Jan 2024 - now

  Head Coach/Director