Richard Mendelow

Colonel Rich "Bucky" Mendelow was born in Johannesburg, South Africa. His family immigrated to the U.S. in 1976. He attended James E. Taylor High School in Katy, Texas. He entered the Naval Reserve Officer Training Corps at Duke University in 1984. In 1988, after graduation from college and commissioning, 2nd Lieutenant Mendelow reported to The Basic School, Quantico, Virginia. Upon graduation, he received orders to Pensacola, Florida, for Flight School. He completed Primary, Intermediate Strike, and Advanced Strike Training in Corpus Christi and Kingsville, Texas, and was winged in March 1991. Shortly after that, 1st Lieutenant Mendelow reported to Naval Air Station Whidbey Island, Washington, for EA-6B training with VAQ-129. This training culminated with carrier qualification aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln, at which time he received the MOS of 7543.

In 1992, Lieutenant Mendelow reported to Marine Tactical Electronic Warfare Squadron Two (VMAQ-2). Over the next three years, he was promoted to the rank of Captain, he completed two deployments to Japan, and he amassed over 1000 flight hours in the Prowler. In 1995, Captain Mendelow reported to the 6th Marine Corps Recruiting District Headquarters in Atlanta, Georgia, for duty as the Aviation Assistant for Officer Procurement. He left active duty in 1997 to pursue a career as an Airline Pilot.

In 1998, Rich began work with United Airlines. He qualified as a Flight Engineer on the B-727 the same year and obtained his B-757/767 Type Rating the following year. Following selection to become a Pilot Instructor in 1999, First Officer Mendelow completed the instructor syllabus and transferred to the Denver Training Center in Colorado. He has since qualified on the B-737-300/500, the Airbus A-319/320, and the B-777 and is currently based in Houston, Texas.

In 2008, Major Mendelow returned to the Marine Corps Reserves as a Recruiting Officer Support Officer with Recruiting Station Atlanta, Georgia. Later that year, he mobilized for deployment to Iraq with the Second Marine Expeditionary Force (II MEF) in support of OPERATION IRAQI FREEDOM. While on the II MEF staff, he served as the coordinator for Border and Port of Entry Transition Teams. In June 2010, Major Mendelow reported to I MEF to lead Border Advisor Team 2 (BAT-2). While deployed to Afghanistan, he completed over 200 patrols in 210 days. In June 2011, following a successful deployment to Helmand Province, Afghanistan, and his promotion, Lieutenant Colonel Mendelow reported to the 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing for duty in the Wing Safety Office. In March 2012, Lieutenant Colonel Mendelow reported to the 4th Marine Aircraft Wing for duty in the Operations Department as the Current Operations Officer. Shortly after that, he completed training in the UC-12W and deployed to Afghanistan with Marine Air Transport Squadron Belle Chasse as the Squadron Executive Officer. Lieutenant Colonel Mendelow flew 20 combat missions and over 80 combat flight hours. He was promoted to the rank of Colonel in 2017, and he currently serves with the Commandant of the Marine Corps Safety Division.

Colonel Mendelow's education includes a Bachelor's degree from Duke University and the Marine Corps Command and Staff College. His personal decorations include the Bronze Star, Air Medal, Meritorious Service Medal, Navy & Marine Corps Commendation Medal, Navy & Marine Corps Achievement Medal, and Combat Action Ribbon.

Richard published Right Makes Might: 40 Days to Courageous Christianity in March 2018. It was a best seller on Amazon Kindle that same month. To learn more about Richard and his book Right Make Might: 40 Days to Courageous Christianity, visit https://www.rightmakesmight.com/courageous-christianity/.

Join Richard and his guests as they shed light on the critical intersection of our faith and this world - a battlefield on spiritual combat, and the rules of engagement for courageous Christianity.