Richard John Silong

Lt Col Richard John Silong, Ret.

"Wyatt"

October 7, 1965 – February 20, 2022

Rick Silong, call sign Wyatt, was born October 7, 1965 in Northridge, CA to Peggy and John Silong.  He grew up in Palmdale, CA, attended St. Mary's School and Paraclete High School, and attended both the University of Idaho and UCLA on a ROTC scholarship.  He graduated from UCLA in December 1987 with a degree in Aerospace Engineering.  He was commissioned as an Ensign in the U.S. Navy on December 14, 1987.  Rick received his wings of gold on May 11, 1990.  He began flight training in the F/A-18 Hornet at NAS Lemoore and was assigned to the VFA-27 Chargers.  He completed an "Around the Horn" on the USS Kitty Hawk, and was later deployed to support Operation Restore Hope and Operation Southern Watch, flying combat missions over Iraq.  He attended the Defense Language Institute in Monterey, CA for Spanish language training for his assignment in Barquisimeto, Venezuela for an exchange tour with the Venezuelan Air Force flying the T-2D and F-5.  He returned to NAS Lemoore to VFA-125 for F/A-18 Instructor Duty.  He served as Department Head in VFA-137 and made two Western Pacific/Arabian Gulf deployments on board the USS Constellation in support of Operation Southern Watch.  After 14 years in the Navy, Lieutenant Commander Silong executed as inter-service transfer from the U.S. Navy to the U.S. Air Force, accepting his new commission as a Major.  Major Silong was stationed at Holloman AFB, NM, where he flew the F-117 Stealth Fighter. Upon graduation from the 7 ^th Combat Training Squadron, he was assigned to the 9 ^th Fighter Squadron.  Later, he became a Black Sheep with the 8 ^th Fighter Squadron, where he deployed to Qatar in support of Operation Southern Watch and Operation Iraqi Freedom, flying combat missions over Iraq.  During combat, he was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant Colonel.  He then reported to Detachment 1, 53 ^rd Test and Evaluation Group as Director of Operations and to perform operational testing of the F-117A.  He assumed command of this squadron until the unit's inactivation in 2006.  Lieutenant Colonel Silong then reported to Naval Air Weapons Station China Lake with VX-9 as the F/A-19 Strike Fighter and Special Programs Operational Branch Head, where he served his final tour of duty, retiring May 1, 2011.  Wyatt served more than 23 years of honorable service in the U.S. Navy and U.S. Air Force.  He is distinguished with the Meritorious Service Medal, three Air Medals, the Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal, the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal and other various campaign and unit awards.  After retiring from the Air Force, Rick flew for Delta Airlines, flying both domestic and international routes out of Atlanta, GA for a year before landing his dream job back here at China Lake.  At the time of his passing, Rick was a developmental test pilot for the F/A-18E/F and EA-18G with Boeing.  He was an Associate Technical Fellow with more than 5000 mishap-free flight hours and over 600 arrested landings.  He loved his job and always said he was the luckiest guy alive.  When he wasn't flying at work, he was flying his Bellanca Super Viking.  Despite all of his lifelong accomplishments, his greatest accomplishments were his two children, Garrett John (1LT, U.S. Army) and Paige Elise (Gonzaga University – GO ZAGS!).  He also leaves behind his wife of 31 years, Gina, his mom Peggy Osterman and her husband Paul, his brother Mitchell and his wife Yoshiko and children Codey and Keannan, his sister Cindy and son Finnley, in-laws Keith and Edmee Hoyt, brother-in laws Jonathan and wife Liliana, David and children Jake and Ryan, niece Samantha and fiancé Moises and children Zoie and Nolan, Aunt Sue and daughter Cherie, Aunt Sally, Willa Dean Hunter, the Langford cousins, his four-legged children Dusty, Hamilton and Windy plus many other family and friends whom he loved dearly.  He is preceded in death by his father, John Silong, his grandfather Richard Rybolt, and grandmother Betty Rybolt.

Rick's funeral Mass will be Friday, March 4 at 1:00 p.m. at St. Ann Catholic Church, Ridgecrest, CA. A reception will immediately follow in the Parish Center.  Flight suits are encouraged. Interment will take place on May 18, 2022 at Miramar National Cemetery at 11:00 a.m.  In lieu of flowers, the family has requested that donations be made to St. Ann School, the Navy League, or the Ridgecrest Animal Shelter.  We would like to thank E.R. doctor, Dr. Cho, for giving Rick additional hours to share with his wife, Gina.  We are grateful to Fr. Jim, who stayed by Rick and Gina's side in the E.R the entire time.  Rick was a registered organ donor and will give the gift of life through his donation.  Finally, the outpouring of love, support, kindness and food from family, friends, the military community, Boeing, and the community of Ridgecrest is beyond measure.  We cannot thank everyone enough.  We are truly blessed.