As the oldest of five children, Richard earned his first degree (A.B.) with a dual sociology/pre-med focus from Harvard University in 1988. Following in his father's footsteps, a physician in San Diego, Richard initially went to work in the medical industry. He began his management career immediately upon graduation, when he was recruited to serve as director of the DNA Synthesis Facility at The Salk Institute of Biological Sciences, where he remained until 1994. While rewarding, Richard seized upon a unique opportunity in athletics, and in 1994 accepted a position as the assistant coach for the University of California's women's basketball team which he led to its first-time win as Big West Conference Champions and to first-time participation in the National Collegiate Athletic Association tournament. From 1995 until 1997, he combined his interests and talents in the scientific/healthcare field and athletics as a science teacher and basketball coach for high schools in California, leading the Mater Del High School team to their first win as California State Champions. In 1997, Richard gained his first experience living and working overseas when he was recruited as the assistant coach to the Australian Women's National Basketball League. During the three years he lived in Victoria, before being recruited away to Micronesia to work for Ambassador Watson, he led the women's team to reach playoffs each year, then took the helm as head coach for the Senior Men's team, lifting them from a long-time losing streak to their first playoff appearance in several years. Richard also incorporated Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy into a part-time job.

Richard's many years of government service began in 2000.  He was personally recruited by then-Ambassador Diane E. Watson to relocate to Micronesia and manage several U.S. State Department-sponsored projects. Among his other achievements during this time, Richard worked to secure corporate sponsorship and build public-private sector partnerships that resulted in the establishment of increased athletic opportunities for local children. Most importantly, he performed an examination of the island's medical systems, and review of the educational system. In 2001, when Diane Watson returned to her home in California, Richard returned as well, spearheading her winning Congressional campaign before beginning work for the newly elected Congresswoman Diane E. Watson.

Starting in Washington, D.C. as a legislative assistant, Richard earned multiple promotions, and in 2007, was named Congresswoman Watson's chief of staff, managing all employees and office operations in both the D.C. and L.A. offices.  Among other accomplishments, Richard won key Committee appointments for the Congresswoman, orchestrated major PR events, strengthened media relations, represented the Congresswoman at receptions and events, and coordinated endorsements and appearances during the 2008 Presidential campaign.

It was during his time on Capitol Hill that Richard chose to pursue an advanced degree, in 2005, earning an International Executive MBA degree from the McDonough School of Business at Georgetown University.

Besides his deep interest in sports, which Richard has nurtured through his personal and professional involvement with Olympic Events, including Sydney 2000, Salt Lake 2002, Athens 2004, Torino 2006, Beijing 2008, and Vancouver 2010, he also has expertise in international affairs. Richard has lived, worked, and/or traveled to dozens of countries in the Americas, Asia, Europe, Africa, and Australia-and has served as liaison to numerous foreign Ambassadors in relation to Congresswoman Watson's position on the International Relations Committee.

After the birth of his daughter in the summer of 2009, Richard left the government sector for the first time in a decade when he was recruited to leverage the strength of his entire career as the Senior VP of Sports, International, and Government Relations (SIG) for the ATLANTA DITC: The Legacy Institution of the Atlanta 1996 Centennial Olympic Games. The ATLANTA DITC was co-founded in 1996 by IOC Member Prince Albert II of Monaco who currently serves as Honorary Chair, and Co-Chaired since 2002 by Ambassador Andrew Young former Atlanta Mayor (1982-1990) and Co-Chair (1989-1996) of the Atlanta Committee for the Olympic Games (ACOG).  The ATLANTA DITC is a non-profit with an affiliation to the World Union of Olympic Cities (WUOC) representing the City of Atlanta in it's WUOC capacity.  The ATLANTA DITC is officially mandated by the WUOC to establish, produce, and manage the WUOC House during the Olympic Games in London 2012, Sochi 2014, and Rio 2016.

Currently, Richard resides and works from Washington, D.C. Other on-going engagements include: Support Staff for the High Level Panel Independent Review on Fiduciary Controls and Oversight Mechanisms of the Geneva, Switzerland based Global Fund, for AIDS/TB/Malaria; the Special Assistant (Contractor position at TeAM Inc.) to the Director of the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) Military Health System (MHS) Cyberinfrastructure Services (MCiS) Organization.  He is one of a four-member "Red Team" in charge of a 62-person group that provides program-management support to DoD/MHS/MCiS, which manages the communications and computing infrastructure for the U.S. Military's Health Services (MHS); and finally he remains active as a Board member of various charitable organizations, including Youth Impact Program and Water for Children Africa.