Commissioner Richard Lohnes

50 East Columbia Street

P.O. Box 2639

Springfield, Ohio 45501

Office # (937) 521-2005

Fax # (937) 328-4588

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Colonel Richard L. Lohnes retired as the Commander of the 178th Fighter Wing, Ohio Air National Guard, located at Springfield Air National Guard Base, Springfield, Ohio.  In his role as a full time Air Technician, he served in the capacity as an F-16 Flying Training Instructor Pilot.  He was responsible for all 178 Fighter Wing flying training, staff direction, a $94million budget, 1000 personnel, and support for the 251st Combat Communications Group, 269th Combat Communications Squadron and 123rd Air Control Squadron. 

 Colonel Lohnes was born in Springfield, Ohio where he graduated from Shawnee High School in 1970.  He graduated from Capital University, Columbus, Ohio where he was a member of the 1970 NCAA Div II National Champion football team. He was a Distinguished Military Graduate (Cum Laude), and was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant through the Air Force ROTC program in 1974. 

 Following graduation, then Lieutenant Lohnes was placed in an inactive reserve status while he waited for an Undergraduate Pilot Training course date.  During this period, he served as an assistant coach for the 1975 National Champion Wittenberg University football team and taught school in Springfield and Clark County.  Following USAF pilot training, First Lieutenant Lohnes transferred to the 178th Fighter Group in 1976.  He remained there until his retirement in April 2008.  His many positions there included instructor pilot, squadron and group commander, and detachment commander during OPERATION Desert Shield in 1996, where he flew the unit’s first combat missions.  Colonel Lohnes retired with such awards and decorations as the Legion of Merit, the Air Medal, and the Air Force Meritorious Service Medal.  He resides in Clark County with his wife Susan, a retired school administrator and current teacher at Central State University.  They have two daughters, Katherine Seegraves and Kelly Young. Col Lohnes is a member of Central United Methodist Church and the Springfield Rotary, and he has also worked in the community as a union and management employee at Navistar International, and F-16 training site manager for Lockheed Martin Corp.

 Education:                                                  

1974     Capital University                                                   

1983     Air Command and Staff College                              

1992     Air War College                                                     

Flight Information:

 Rating:  Command Pilot

Flying Hours:  5000 +

Aircraft Flown:  F-100 D/F, A-7 D/K, F-16 C/D