QUANTICO, Va. -- Brig. Gen. Amy Bumgarner, commander of the Air Force Office of Special Investigations, announced that Special Agent (Retired) Richard M. Abboud has been selected for induction into the AFOSI Hall of Fame, as the sole member of the Class of 2025.
“I am honored and humbled by my selection for the AFOSI Hall of Fame,” Abboud said, upon receiving notification. “All I ever did was try to do the best I could at whatever job, investigation or special assignment I was given, none of which I ever asked for, but all of which I loved and valued. Any success I had was due to some great bosses who supported my ideas, many of which held their breath at times, and a great supporting case of skilled professionals whose accomplishments made me look good.”
The AFOSI Hall of Fame was established in 1998 as part of the command’s 50th anniversary year celebrations. It was created to recognize a select few former members of the organization who have demonstrated exceptional dedication and leadership in the performance of their duties which sets them apart from others who have served with AFOSI.
Those chosen for induction must have made significant and long-term contributions to the AFOSI mission or performed an unusually heroic action. To date, from the 77-year history of the organization, only 50 former members have been forever enshrined into the AFOSI Hall of Fame.
Abboud will join this elite group as number 51, a testament to the extraordinary impact he had on AFOSI and the legacy he left behind.
“Richard’s contributions are nothing short of remarkable,” said Brig. Gen. Bumgarner in her announcement to the command. “A natural leader and problem solver, Richard was often chosen to revive stalled investigations, navigate complex operational challenges, and guide struggling field units to success. His expertise was sought after time and again, proving his ability to take on high-profile, mission-critical projects with unmatched skill.”
Abboud served with AFOSI for more than 37 years as both an active-duty and civilian Special Agent. His career in the Air Force began in 1975 when he enlisted to serve in the communications career field. Selected for service with AFOSI in 1982, he graduated from Special Investigations Academy Class 82-D as a Distinguished Graduate.
Abboud held numerous field level positions within the command before retiring from active duty in 1998. He immediately returned as a civilian Special Agent, holding key leadership and other assignments as he was often handpicked by the AFOSI commander to manage crucial projects for the command.
He served as a Superintendent, Special Agent in Charge, Deputy Director, and Director at the Detachment, Region, and Headquarters levels. He was named as AFOSI’s Senior Enlisted Agent of the Year in 1989 and was the command’s runner up for Civilian Agent of the Year a decade later.
In addition to numerous stateside assignments, Abboud served overseas in Europe four times. He deployed to Iraq in 2003, where he was wounded in a terrorist attack in Baghdad receiving the Defense of Freedom Medal, the civilian equivalent of the Purple Heart.
Throughout his career, Abboud has been recognized for his countless successes as an undercover agent in the narcotics and counterintelligence arenas. He was also a major contributor during some of the Department of Defense’s most significant national security espionage investigations involving Special Access Programs.
When the AFOSI Investigations Collections Operations Nexus or ICON concept was established in 2005, Abboud served as the first Director.
As the command’s chief representative during the construction of the Russell-Knox Building, Abboud oversaw the move of AFOSI Headquarters from Joint Base Andrews, Maryland, to MCS Quantico, Virginia, in 2011. This was the largest organizational move and construction project in AFOSI history.
“His legacy speaks for itself,” Bumgarner said. “He set the standard for relentless dedication, investigative excellence, and selfless leadership – qualities that continue to inspire every member of AFOSI today.”
Abboud’s last two assignments with the command include serving at AFOSI Headquarters as the Director of Staff and then crowning a highly successful career in the field as a Special Agent in Charge at the detachment level. He retired from civilian service in 2019 earning the Outstanding Civilian Career Service Award.
Abboud was selected to be a member of the AFOSI Hall of Fame in his first year of eligibility and he will be formally inducted into the AFOSI Hall of Fame during a ceremony later this Fall.
“I’ve always admired Rich as a mentor who never shied away from the tough assignments and consistently delivered outstanding results,” said Special Agent (Retired) Jack Angelo, who nominated Abboud. “He helped me navigate some challenging efforts over the years, and he was always a wealth of insight, perspective, and support.”
AFOSI Hall of Fame eligibility is open to all former military and full-time civilian AFOSI personnel. This includes all agents, non-agents, and reservists assigned to any AFOSI field unit from Jan. 1, 1948, through the present.
Candidates must have been retired or separated from AFOSI for at least five years to be considered. Nominations are accepted throughout the year and must be submitted prior to December 31st to be considered for the next calendar year.
Nominations must be based on genuine knowledge or documented research. Only nominations for individuals will be accepted. Contact the AFOSI History Office at AFOSI.HO.Historian@us.af.mil for more information.