Major General Richard Formica (Retired): A Cheshire Home-Grown Life of Service.

Lieutenant General Richard P. Formica (U.S. Army, Ret.) is a distinguished three-star Army officer whose 36-year military career took him to the highest levels of command in space, missile defense, and joint operations. A native of Cheshire, Connecticut, General Formica’s path from a local public school student to senior national defense leader reflects a life shaped by service, resilience, and community values.

He retired from active duty in October 2013 after one of the most demanding and technologically complex careers in the modern U.S. Army.

A Distinguished Military Career

General Formica’s career encompassed both operational command in combat zones and senior leadership roles at the Pentagon and within joint commands.

His final assignment, from 2010 to 2013, was as Commanding General of the U.S. Army Space and Missile Defense Command (USASMDC) and Commander of U.S. Strategic Command’s Joint Functional Component Command for Integrated Missile Defense. In this role, he oversaw global missile defense operations and the integration of space capabilities critical to national security.

Earlier, he served in key operational roles during America’s post-9/11 conflicts. He was Commanding General of the Combined Security Transition Command–Afghanistan (CSTC-A), responsible for building and sustaining Afghan security forces, and served as Joint Fires and Effects Coordinator for Multi-National Corps–Iraq.

General Formica also held several senior staff positions at the Pentagon, including Director of Force Management for the U.S. Army and Deputy Director for Political-Military Affairs (NATO/Europe) on the Joint Staff, where he worked on alliance strategy and international military coordination.

Education and Commissioning

Formica was commissioned as a second lieutenant in 1977 through the ROTC program at Providence College. He earned:

A Bachelor of Science in Law Enforcement from Bryant University

A Master of Science in Military Arts and Science from the U.S. Army Command and General Staff College

A Master of Science in National Strategic Studies from the National War College

Notably, a military career was not his original plan. While attending Bryant College, he received a recruitment postcard for ROTC at Providence College. Encouraged by roommates who were Vietnam veterans, he joined the program, earned a three-year scholarship, and discovered a calling that would define his professional life.

Growing Up in Cheshire

Born on April 4, 1955, Richard Formica was raised in Cheshire, where he lived until graduating from high school in 1973. He was the second of five sons born to John and Barbara Formica.

His childhood was marked by tragedy when his father, a World War II Army veteran who had been wounded in Europe, died in a sudden accident in 1964. Richard was just nine years old.

Following her husband’s death, Barbara Formica faced the daunting task of raising five boys alone. Having never worked outside the home, she entered the workforce to support her family, managing financial strain while maintaining stability and discipline. General Formica has often cited his mother as the single greatest influence in his life, crediting her strength, sacrifice, and example as foundational to his success.

The Formica family was deeply rooted in the Cheshire community. They were active members of St. Bridget’s Catholic Church, which played a central role in their spiritual and social lives.

Student Leadership and Community Service

Richard Formica attended Cheshire public schools from elementary school through high school. At Cheshire High School, he emerged as a natural leader, serving as Vice President of his sophomore, junior, and senior classes.

He was the inaugural Student Representative to the Cheshire Board of Education and founded the “Give a Damn Club,” a student organization focused on local community service. He also played Little League and junior high baseball, later recalling with humor that he was often stationed in right field by the seventh inning.

Family Legacy of Public Service

The Formica family’s commitment to service extended beyond Richard’s military career. His brother, Paul Formica, also grew up in Cheshire and went on to serve as a Connecticut State Senator and First Selectman of East Lyme.

The family’s local standing and service were publicly recognized in 2016, when Richard Formica was honored as Grand Marshal of the Cheshire Memorial Day Parade.

Life After the Army

Following retirement, General Formica transitioned to the private sector while remaining active in national defense affairs. He served as Vice President of Strategic Initiatives at CALIBRE Systems and continues to contribute to defense policy through service on the Board of Directors of the National Defense Industrial Association (NDIA). He is also active in the Association of the United States Army (AUSA).

In recognition of his lifelong service to the Field Artillery community, he was inducted into the U.S. Field Artillery Hall of Fame in 2022.

A Cheshire Story

From student government halls in Cheshire to command centers overseeing global missile defense, Richard Formica’s life reflects the enduring impact of community, family, and service. His career stands as a testament to how strong local roots can shape national leadership—and how one Cheshire upbringing helped prepare a soldier for the highest levels of responsibility in the United States Army.