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Brad Richardson is the Logistics Readiness Center-Honshu Food Program Manager for the Camp Zama Community, U.S. Army Garrison-Japan, where he serves as the principle authority on all food-service matters. Over the past few months, Mr. Richardson has also served as the Camp Zama Warrior Restaurant manager during the position’s vacancy. In addition, Mr. Richardson is also serving as the Property Book Officer (PBO) for USAG-J until that position is filled.
Please meet Brad Richardson …
Hometown: Ewa Beach, Hawaii
How long have you been working for the U.S. Army? I have worked for the U.S. Army for 31 years, serving 20 years as a Soldier and 11 years as a Department of the Army Civilian.
What other positions have you held with the U.S. Military? Food Service Specialist, Food Service Sergeant, Senior Food Service Sergeant, Cook (Wage Grade-5), Warrior Restaurant Manager, Flight Steward (U.S. Army Executive Jet Program), and Enlisted Aide to the United States Army Japan Commanding General.
Tell us about your job and what you do: I serve as the Food Program Manager for the Camp Zama Military Community, USAG-Japan and am the principle authority on all food-service matters. I direct, plan, and coordinate the food service program for Camp Zama, including operating programs for the Warrior Restaurant. I serve as the principle advisor to the LRC-Honshu director on all aspects of the Army Food Program. I exercise technical supervision over the food-service activities of the installation. I’m responsible for implementing installation, major command and Army directives, concerning subsistence and the food-service operation. I also manage and integrate the prime vendor program for the installation.
How long have you been in this position? I’ve served in this position for 2 years and 7 months.
What other duties are you responsible for? I’m the Warrior Restaurant Manager, Subsistence Supply Manager, Property Book Officer, and Government Purchase Card Billing Official for LRC-Honshu.
What are some of your accomplishments while at LRC-Honshu? During my tenure at LRC-Honshu, I passed the Food Management Assistance Team inspection. The objective of the FMAT mission is to review current food program operations at the installation level to ensure the objectives of the Army Food Program are being achieved. The FMAT visit is an inspection which provides installation food service leaders with a green, amber, or red food program status assessment, and outlines specific, actionable details of problem areas as well as successful practices that should be sustained. The FMAT is, in the truest sense, an assistance team with the charter to empower installation food program leadership in meeting or exceeding the objectives of the Army Food Program, and providing the highest quality food service possible to the Warfighter. I incorporated the ‘Go For Green’ slogan in the Warrior Restaurant, and ensured that Operational Rations and Prime Vendor items were ordered in a timely manner to support the Orient Shield and Yama Sakura exercises.
What is the best thing about working at LRC-Honshu? The best thing about my job is the people that I work with, including the leadership, who have supported me throughout my time here, and especially the amazing local national staff that work with us daily to accomplish the mission of supporting the Soldiers.
What do you like to do in your free time? During my free time, I practice Judo and Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, travel around Japan to see the beautiful destinations, and enjoy the unique food here.
