Richard enlisted in the United States Navy Reserve in 2005, and while pursuing the Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) Technician pipeline, attended the following military schools: EOD Diver Training, EOD School, EOD Tactical School, Expeditionary Combat Skills, Basic Airborne School, and United States Army Jumpmaster School.

Upon graduating from SUNY Geneseo with a B.S. in Applied Physics, he was accepted to United States Navy Officer Candidate School (OCS), and was commissioned as an active duty Ensign in 2007. He then attended Military Free Fall Parachute Course (HALO), Survival Evasion Resistance Escape (SERE) School, and EOD Junior Officers Course.  After being assigned as the OIC of a West Coast EOD Team, Richard completed a combat deployment with his platoon in southeastern Afghanistan.

Richard also holds a NYS Firefighter 1 and NYS Certified First Responder (CFR) certification, and volunteers his time with the Geneseo Fire Department & Ambulance Corps.