Colonel (ret) Richard Graham was born August 19, 1942 in New Castle, Pa. He graduated from the University of Akron, Akron, Ohio, in 1964 and received a master's degree in sociology in 1977 and in Public Administration in 1979 from Pepperdine University, Los Angeles, California. He graduated from Air War College in residence in 1982.

After receiving his commission from AFROTC he entered pilot training at Craig AFB, Alabama. In 1965 he graduated from pilot training and remained at Craig AFB as a T-37 instructor pilot and flight examiner. In August 1970 he was assigned to Davis-Monthan AFB, Arizona, to begin F-4 training. Upon completion of his training he was assigned to the 555th Tactical Fighter Squadron ("Triple Nickel") at Udorn RTAFB, Thailand from March 1971 to March 1972. During that time he flew 145 combat missions over North Vietnam and Laos in the F-4C/D aircraft. In April 1972 he was assigned to the 44th Tactical Fighter Squadron at Kadena AFB, Okinawa, Japan, flying F-4D aircraft. Four months later he volunteered for, and joined, the 67th Tactical Fighter Squadron as an F-4C "Wild Weasel" pilot. In September 1972, until February 1973, Colonel Graham was deployed with his squadron to Korat RTAFB, Thailand, to augment F-105 "Wild Weasel" aircraft. At Korat he flew 60 combat missions, suppressing enemy surface-to-air missile sites in North Vietnam. During Christmas 1972 he participated in six Linebacker II sorties over Hanoi. In March 1973 his squadron joined the 17th Tactical Fighter Wing deployed to CCK Air Base, Taiwan. He departed Kadena as the F-4 Standardization/Evaluation Branch Chief.