2023 -- H 5245

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LC000434

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2023

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H O U S E   R E S O L U T I O N

CONGRATULATING ROGER RICHARDS, JR., ON HIS RETIREMENT FROM THE

RHODE ISLAND AIR NATIONAL GUARD AFTER TWO DECADES OF HONORABLE

AND MERITORIOUS MILITARY SERVICE TO OUR NATION AND THE STATE OF

RHODE ISLAND

     Introduced By: Representatives Vella-Wilkinson, Shekarchi, Blazejewski, Noret,
Casimiro, Chippendale, Azzinaro, Kennedy, Fellela, and Ajello

     Date Introduced: January 26, 2023

     Referred To: House read and passed

     WHEREAS, Mr. Roger Richards holds an Associate’s degree in Criminal Justice/Law

Enforcement Administration from the Community College of Rhode Island, having graduated in

1999; and

     WHEREAS, Mr. Richards began his exemplary military career in 2000, when he joined

the United States Air Force, serving as a Medical Logistics Journeyman where he was certified in

the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act and had numerous important warehouse

responsibilities, including verifying and processing shipments, and managing stock supplies,

stock rotation, inventories and delivering of supplies; and

     WHEREAS, Since 2007, Mr. Rogers, who attained the rank of Technical Sergeant,

served as a Medical Logistics NCOIC with the Rhode Island Air National Guard. His many

responsibilities included managing the medical supply chain and using Defense Medical Logistics

Standard Support, becoming certified in the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act

(HIPPA), ensuring the proper use and interpretation of important computer technology products

related to the activity list, transaction register, backorder reports, and issuing turn-in summary

reports; and

     WHEREAS, Mr. Rogers also worked for more than nine years, from 2011 to 2020, as a

Medical Supply Specialist for Lifespan where he provided key support to the Emergency

Department, including the control and placement of medical supply orders to maintain the levels

necessary to run at maximum capacity. He also inspected all medical supplies and equipment to

make sure they were serviceable, and ensured that all infection control policies were followed as

required. He is also certified in CPR; and

     WHEREAS, Mr. Richards began his distinguished Rhode Island public service career

with the RIDLT in February of 2012, where he had numerous important responsibilities,

including performing initial screening of veterans to make sure they met the United States

Department of Labor Employment Training Service eligibility requirements, counseling veterans

on their Veteran Administration benefits and referring them to the proper service agencies in

order to file for benefits, assisting them in their quest to attain Rhode Island Unemployment and

Compensation benefits, and working with homeless veterans to attain temporary housing and

support services; and

     WHEREAS, Through the years, Mr. Richards has worked tirelessly to develop strategies

to better assist veterans facing barriers to employment. As an advisor to individual veterans, he

would evaluate the veteran’s work experience, education, skills and abilities, and create goals for

each individual veteran, assisting them in developing professional resumes and sharpening their

interviewing skills, and providing targeted job and employment referrals; and

     WHEREAS, Mr. Richards also worked tirelessly during the COVID-19 epidemic in

2020, to process the more than 100,000 claims, and researched the claims and applicants for

possible fraudulent activity; and

     WHEREAS, Mr. Richards is the beloved husband of Lindsay Richards and the devoted

father of Natalie and Derek; now; therefore be it

     RESOLVED, That this House of Representatives of the State of Rhode Island hereby

congratulates Roger Richards on his retirement from the Rhode Island Air National Guard after

almost twenty years of meritorious service to our nation and State as a member of the United

States Air Force, and the Rhode Island Air National Guard. We also thank him for all of the

assistance he has provided the Rhode Island veterans in his position with the Rhode Island

Department of Labor & Training. We furthermore wish him continued success in all of his future

endeavors; and be it further

     RESOLVED, That the Secretary of State be and hereby is authorized and directed to

transmit a duly certified copy of this resolution to Mr. Roger Richards, Jr.

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LC000434

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