Commander Dave RichardsonCommanding Officer
A native of Virginia, CDR Dave Richardson graduated with merit from the Naval Academy in 1995 with a B.S. degree in Systems Engineering.
At sea, CDR Richardson served as Combat Information Center Officer in USS CHIEF (MCM 14) and USS DEXTROUS (MCM 13); Navigator and Operations Officer in USS VANDEGRIFT (FFG 48); Operations Officer in USS O'KANE (DDG 77); commissioning Combat Systems Officer in USS BAINBRIDGE (DDG 96); and as Executive Officer in USS McFAUL (DDG 74).
Ashore, CDR Richardson served as a Company Officer and Instructor at the Naval Academy; Legislative Fellow on the personal staff of Senator Edward M. Kennedy; Legislative Liaison to Congress for the Director of the National Reconnaissance Office; and forward-deployed to Afghanistan as the NRO liaison for mission support.
CDR Richardson’s additional education includes a M.S. degree in Leadership from the Naval Postgraduate School, and a M.A. degree with distinction in National Security and Strategic Studies from the Naval War College. His personal awards include the NRO Medal of Meritorious Service and the Frank M. Adams Leadership Award.