After graduating High School, Richard joined the US Army in January of 1990. After completing Basic, AIT and Airborne School, his first duty station was in Germany with the 3rd ID. His next assignment was (NTC) Ft. Irwin, Ca. for the next 4 years with the 11th ACR. After completing his service he returned home where he became a Firefighter. After a few years as a firefighter, he decided to put himself through the local Police Academy, all while maintaining his full time job as a Firefighter/EMT at the Portsmouth (OH) fire Dept. Upon Graduation from the OPOTA Academy he took a position as a Special Deputy Sheriff, for the next 12 years, at the Scioto County Sheriffs Office. He became an Ad Hoc Investigator in the Portsmouth Fire Departments Investigations Office, to be called out under/ in Special Cercumstances. In 2016 the Department decided to stand up a TEMS (Tactical Medic)Team and he was one of the first sent to TEMS training and then Advanced Tactical Operations Medic School, graduating from Tri-Med Tactical, one of the nations top tier schools. After a few years as one of the departments TEMS Medics he was given the opportunity to try out for a posistion as Medic/ Operator for the local PD SWAT Team. And at the young age of 49 he made the team. He was then sent to and graduated from Basic SWAT. For the next three years he acted as a Lead Medic, Breacher and a Tactical Operator for the team. While this all was going on in his career he was also asked to join the Tri-Med Tactical team as an Instructor and also an Adjunct Instructor for the Ohio Tactical Officers Association. As a Tactical/ SWAT Medic and Operator, he has had the oportunity to work with the FBI Drug Task Force, US Marshals SOFAS Team and other State and Local agencies. In 2023, after years of putting it off, he tested and was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant. He is currently assigned as OIC of Ladder Co. 1/ Medic 1 in Battalion 3, Portsmouth (OH) Fire Dept.