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Political Science Department

CAPT Dave Richardson, Ph.D., PMP

A third-generation Navy Sailor, Captain Dave Richardson graduated with merit from the United States Naval Academy in 1995 with a B.S. degree in systems engineering.  His additional education includes a M.S. degree in leadership from the Naval Postgraduate School; a M.A. degree with distinction in national security and strategic studies from the Naval War College; and a Ph.D. in political science from The George Washington University.  His doctoral work focused on American politics and quantitative methodology, and his dissertation examined the declining number of military veterans serving in Congress since the advent of the all-volunteer force.

At sea, CAPT Richardson has served on seven ships and deployed to the Mediterranean, Horn of Africa, Middle East, and Asia/Pacific operating areas. He 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).  CAPT Richardson served as the 10th Commanding Officer of USS Porter (DDG 78) from August 2012 until July 2014.

Ashore, he served at the Naval Academy as 10th Company Officer and leadership/naval science instructor; on Capitol Hill as a legislative fellow on the personal staff of Senator Edward M. Kennedy; as legislative liaison to Congress for the Director of the National Reconnaissance Office (NRO); and forward-deployed to Afghanistan as the senior NRO liaison for mission support to a special operations task force.

In addition to various military decorations and unit/campaign awards, CAPT Richardson is the recipient of the NRO Medal of Meritorious Service and the Naval Academy’s Frank M. Adams Leadership Award. 

DKR Last Day at Sea

Classes Taught:

FP130:  U.S. Government & Constitutional Development
FP220:  Political Science Methods
FP355: Civil Military Relations
FP471:  American Politics Capstone
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