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Rich Campbell comes from a proud, loving family of five who looks up to him, and rightfully so. In less than 10 years, he has worked his way up the chain of command in the Navy, making great impressions wherever he was. He is a Navy fighter pilot and a top gun, and now his hard work is paying off as he has been promoted to Lieutenant Commander.
“He always talked about being a pilot,” his mom Leigh Ann said.
For Rich, the dream started early on, and while he might not have always known he wanted to be in the Navy, he has certainly found his calling. He has earned his shot at this prestigious position, and he earned it earlier than many do in their military careers.
But that’s just the mantra of Rich. He’s got a super competitive spirit and a drive to be the best, from his days growing up juggling and solving Rubik’s Cubes to his early days in the military aiming to finish at the top every day just so he could fly the jet he wanted to fly. There is nothing that can stop Rich from succeeding at whatever he wants to succeed at.
He is a man of poise too, as well as someone who likes to take people under his wing. He is a leader by example, and people have always taken to Rich. They will continue to do so as he steps into a much bigger role in the Navy, and anyone who knows Rich knows he is fit for the position.
“For him, personality. Leading groups. That natural leadership,” Rich’s father RJ said this is what is going to make his son a great Lieutenant Commander. “People like him and want to work for him. He’s very calm.”
“He’s got a great attitude,” Leigh Ann added. “People like him. He’s good under pressure. He’s very smart.”
Ever since Rich officially entered the Navy on January 2, 2016, his service has been full of dedication and sacrifice. He found his footing early on, and his path to Lieutenant Commander is one many people dream of:
He left for Officer Candidate School in Rhode Island on January 2, 2016.
He was commissioned an Ensign on March 25, 2016.
He went to flight training in Pensacola in June 2016.
He was stationed in Corpus Christi in October 2016.
He moved to Mississippi for Advanced Flight Training at the end of 2016.
He received his “Wings of Gold” insignia on April 26, 2019.
He deployed with VFA-83 Rampagers for the first time in January 2021.
He deployed on the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (aka The Ike) for a second time on October 23, 2023.
He finished with The Rampagers in April 2024 and moved onto NAWDC.
He earned his TOPGUN patch on December 12, 2024.
He received his promotion to Lieutenant Commander in December 2025.
“Dedication and hard work. Attitude. A good attitude is important,” RJ said of what makes his son a good military man.
Rich and his family are always on the move, but he has certainly made it all worthwhile. He flies the F/A-18 Super Hornet and the F-16 Viper as a Strike Fighter Tactics Instructor training U.S. Navy Fighter Pilots. Plus, with his newest promotion, he gets to be a top guy.
Speaking of his family, Rich is definitely a family man first and foremost. While he enjoys his time as a fighter pilot, he loves his time at home with his wife and kids. Molly is his ride or die, and Charlotte (call sign Charlie) and Rich V (call sign Quinn) are the lights of his world.
“When he is not deployed, he is super present with Charlie and Quinn,” RJ said.
“He’s such a good husband and father,” Leigh Ann added. “He has a son and daughter who are about 5 and 2-and-a-half. Even though he works long days, he does most of the cooking. He works around the house. He is so hardworking and helps out. He’s such a good dad.”
You could say he was born to be a military man, but that would short sight who he is as a husband and father. That’s why it is pertinent to just say that Rich was born to do it all. He is a military officer, a doting husband, a loving father, a son who makes his parents proud, and an older brother his siblings love staying in touch with and looking up to.
“We want him to know how much we are proud of all he has accomplished in his Navy career and as a father and as a husband. We talk about him so much and are so proud of him.” – RJ
Congratulations LCDR Campbell!
