From decorated combat pilot to nonprofit founder, Rico's story is one of purpose that never stops evolving.
Three decades of service. One lifelong mission
A Fighter Pilot Forged in Combat
Commissioned through The Citadel in 1981, Rico didn't just serve his country, he distinguished himself in ways few ever have. A command pilot with more than 3,100 fighter hours, 350 of them in combat, he flew in Operations Desert Storm, Allied Force, Southern Watch, and Iraqi Freedom, earning credit for three aerial victories: two Iraqi MiGs and one Yugoslav MiG-29.
His decorations include the Distinguished Flying Cross with two oak leaf clusters, the Bronze Star, and the Legion of Merit. After 25 years, he retired as Commander of the 355th Mission Support Group at Davis-Monthan AFB, leaving the Air Force the same way he entered it, with everything he had.
From Command to the Corporate World
The transition out of uniform didn't slow Rico down, it opened a new theater. At Raytheon, he climbed through senior executive roles before serving as Vice President for Middle East and North Africa Customer Requirements, bringing the same operational clarity to the defense industry that once made him one of the most effective fighter pilots of his generation. The environment changed; the standard didn't.
Continuing the Mission
Retirement, for Rico, was never really an option. Today he leads the Splash 3 Foundation, a 501(c)(3) he founded to funnel every dollar raised directly to veteran and community charities across Southern Arizona.
He also serves as Chief Development Officer and Founding Board Member of Warbird National Course and CLAW, a nonprofit building a first-of-its-kind golf course and STEM learning center. The title has changed and the uniform is gone, but the mission is the same one it's always been.
Rico shows up to every engagement with the same conviction he brought to the cockpit and every dollar earned goes directly to the Splash 3 Foundation, supporting veterans and families across Southern Arizona.
Recent Engagements
✈ National Air and Space Museum
✈ Final Flight & arrival of F-15C 85-0114
✈ American Fighter Aces Association
✈ 85th anniversary of the 59th Fighter Sqd
✈ United Sates Air Force Academy - “Plato to Dogfights”
If you want to continue to support the Splash3 efforts, consider making a donation and follow our social media and website to see us continue to highlight community charities, and be the first to know and sign up for future events.
