title: Richard T. Swope
text: # Richard T. Swope
  
  Richard T. Swope (November 21, 1942 – January 8, 2011) was a lieutenant general in the United States Air Force who served as the Inspector General of the United States Air Force from 1996 until his retirement in 1998.
  
  ## Awards and decorations
  
  * Command Pilot Badge
  * Air Force Distinguished Service Medal
  * Defense Superior Service Medal
  * Legion of Merit (with two bronze oak leaf cluster)
  * Distinguished Flying Cross
  * Meritorious Service Medal (with four bronze oak leaf clusters)
  * Air Medal (fifteen awards total)
  * Air Medal
  * Air Force Outstanding Unit Award (with Valor device and two oak leaf clusters)
  * Combat Readiness Medal
  * Air Force Recognition Ribbon
  * National Defense Service Medal (with one bronze service star)
  * Vietnam Service Medal (with three bronze service stars)
  * Southwest Asia Service Medal (with service star)
  * Air Force Overseas Short Tour Service Ribbon
  * Air Force Overseas Long Tour Service Ribbon with two oak leaf clusters
  * Air Force Longevity Service Award (with one silver and two bronze oak leaf clusters)
  * Small Arms Expert Marksmanship Ribbon
  * Air Force Training Ribbon
  * Vietnam Gallantry Cross Unit Citation
  * Vietnam Campaign Medal
  
  ## Personal life
  
  General Swope was an avid aviation enthusiast as demonstrated by personally constructing and test flying a Vans Aircraft RV-8 amateur built experimental aircraft of which he was the repairmen.
  
  ## Death
  
  After retirement, General Swope suffered an unexpected death while skiing at the Whitefish Mountain Resort in Montana on January 8, 2011.
  
  