Jun 12, 2016 2 min read

Senior Master Sgt. Richard J. DeMarco is retiring from the military. His parents are Susie McGary of Washington and Rick DeMarco of Canonsburg. DeMarco, a native of Canonsburg, joined the U.S. Air Force in March 1992. He completed basic military training at Lackland AFB, Texas, and technical training there to become a secure communications systems maintenance specialist. DeMarco was assigned to the 74th Air Control Squadron, Langley AFB, Virginia, where he maintained a variety of cryptographic and ancillary information technology equipment. He was reassigned to the 42nd Communications Squadron, Maxwell AFB, Alabama, where he maintained cryptographic equipment and associated voice and data circuits for the 42nd Air Base Wing, Air University, Air Force Wargaming Institute, Air Force Historical Research Agency and other tenant units. In 1997, DeMarco relocated to the 607th Combat Communications Squadron, Camp Humphries, South Korea. After a year in South Korea, he transferred to the 65th Communications Squadron at Lajes Field, Azores, Portugal. In 2000, he was reassigned to the 89th Communications Squadron at Andrews AFB, Maryland, where he was promoted to technical sergeant and master sergeant. In 2007, DeMarco went to the 352nd Special Operations Support Squadron at Royal Air Force Mildenhall, England, where he served as flight chief of group communications. In 2009, he led a 31-person team that established an air operations center in less than nine hours during the group’s Operational Readiness Inspection, setting an Air Force Special Operations Command record. He earned the Communications Flight Medal and secured an overall excellent rating for the group. Before leaving Mildenhall, he was promoted to senior master sergeant. When he returned to the United States, DeMarco was assigned to the Defense Intelligence Agency at Joint Base Anacostia-Bolling in Washington, D.C. Three years later, he relocated to the 707th Communications Squadron at Fort George G. Meade, Maryland. His major awards and decorations include the Defense Meritorious Service Medal; Meritorious Service Medal with two oak-leaf clusters; Air Force Commendation Medal with three oak-leaf clusters; Air Force Achievement Medal with four oak-leaf clusters; Joint Meritorious Unit Award; Meritorious Unit Award with two oak-leaf clusters; Air Force Outstanding Unit Award with nine oak-leaf clusters; National Defense Service Medal with two devices; Global War on Terrorism Service Medal; Korean Defense Service Medal; and Humanitarian Service Medal. He and his wife, Tracy, have two daughters, Rachel and Chloe.