Air station civilian retires from federal service

MARINE CORPS AIR STATION NEW RIVER, NC, UNITED STATES

10.20.2016

Story by Cpl. Mark Watola 

Marine Corps Installations East       

Richard Eldridge, lead defense travel administrator on Marine Corps Air Station New River, retired from federal service today and received a certificate of appreciation for his service.

Eldridge went to Parris Island in 1983 and later in his career reached the rank of staff sergeant and commissioned to warrant officer in 1994. He commissioned because of examples that were set for him.

"The warrant officers I ran into early in my career were awesome individuals so I wanted to be like them," said Eldridge. "I was a personnel officer."

As a warrant officer, Eldridge was there for during the beginning of the War on Terror.

"I was on the first East Coast float with 22 Marine Expeditionary Unit after 9/11 in 2002," said Eldridge.

Later on, in 2004, his duties took him to al Asad, Iraq but he finished his time in the Marine Corps at New River, where his last official duties were as the director of IPAC and setting up the Defense Travel System at New River.

"He established the DTS program from the ground floor when it first started," said Kristal Humphrey, air station New River director. "He’s very knowledgeable and supervising him was very hands-off. It’s going to be difficult to replace him."

After approximately, 24 years in the Marine Corps, he retired as a chief warrant officer 4 and remained on the air station to continue work as a civilian.

"The transition was pretty easy, having been here for a fair amount of time I still had my contacts," said Eldridge. "My role as DTS administrator was taking care of issues and hosting a help desk service for them. It helped reduce stress of Marines and admins, and helps them focus on the mission."

Although Eldridge retired after 10 years as a civilian at the air station, he plans to continue work with his family.

"My wife and I are going to purchase a small business and work together on that. The young folks I worked with help keep me young," said Eldridge. "I’m going to miss working with Marines for sure."

• Date Taken: 10.20.2016
• Date Posted: 10.20.2016 09:06
• Story ID: 212440
• Location: MARINE CORPS AIR STATION NEW RIVER, NC, US