Richard Anderson (politician)

Richard L. Anderson
Member of the Virginia House of Delegates
from the 51st district
Assumed office
January 13, 2010
Preceded by Paul F. Nichols
Personal details
Born (1955-05-30) May 30, 1955
Roanoke, Virginia
Political party Republican
Spouse(s) Ruth Marian Valentine
Residence Woodbridge, Virginia
Alma mater Virginia Tech
Webster University
Profession Military officer (retired)
Committees Finance
General Laws
Science and Technology
Transportation
Religion Baptist
Website richanderson.com
Military service
Service/branch United States Air Force
Years of service 19792009
Rank Colonel (USAF)
Brigadier General (CAP)
Commands Civil Air Patrol National Commander
19931996

Richard L. "Rich" Anderson (born May 30, 1955) is an American politician. Since 2010 he has served in the Virginia House of Delegates, representing the 51st district in the Prince William County suburbs of Washington, D.C. He is a member of the Republican Party.[1]

Anderson chairs the House Committee on Science and Technology (2010), and serves on the House committees on Finance (2010), General Laws (2010), and Transportation (2012).[2]

Early Life, Education, Military Career

Anderson was born in Roanoke, Virginia, and attended Northside High School there. He received a B.A. degree in political science from Virginia Tech in 1979.[1]

Anderson was commissioned in the United States Air Force after graduation, serving in Titan II and Minuteman II intercontinental ballistic missile units, as well as other command and staff positions. He received an M.A. in public administration from Webster University in 1982. He also attended the Air War College, Air Command and Staff College and Armed Forces Staff College. He retired in 2009 in the rank of colonel. His wife, the former Ruth Valentine, also served in the Air Force for 21 years.[1][3]

Anderson joined the Civil Air Patrol (CAP) as a cadet in 1969, and has been a CAP member since then. He served as National Commander with the CAP rank of brigadier general August 1993 August 1996,[4] and was chairman of the CAP Board of Governors February 2011 February 2013.[5]

Virginia House of Delegates, Political Career

After his Air Force retirement, Anderson entered politics, gaining the Republican nomination for the Virginia House of Delegates 51st district in the 2009 election. He defeated first-term Democrat Paul F. Nichols by less than two percentage points.[6] Anderson ran unopposed in 2011, and defeated Democrat Reed Heddleston by roughly 2,000 votes in 2013. In 2015, Anderson ran unopposed for re-election to his fourth term in office.

During his time in office, Anderson has been on the Military and Veterans Caucus, Commission on Civics Education, State Crime Commission, Potomac and Rappahannock Transportation Commission Board of Commissioners, the National Conference of State Legislatures, Virginia Coalition on Open Government, and House Conservation Conference, among other affiliations.

Commissions and Committees

Chair, House Committee on Science and Technology Member, House Appropriations Committee (HAC)

Member, HAC Public Safety Subcommittee

Member, HAC Transportation Subcommittee

Member, HAC Higher Education Subcommittee

Member, House General Laws Committee

Member, General Laws FOIA/Procurement Subcommittee #2

Member, General Laws ABC/Gaming Subcommittee #3

Member, House Transportation Committee

Member, Transportation Subcommittee #1

Chair, General Assembly Military and Veterans Caucus (GAMVC)

Chair, Virginia Commission on Civics Education

Chair, General Assembly Benjamin Franklin Liberty Caucus

Chair, Virginia Joint Commission on Technology and Science (JCOTS)

Member, Virginia State Crime Commission

Member, Virginia Commission on Youth

Member, Governor’s Commission on Military Installations and Defense Activities (COMIDA)

Member, Virginia Board of Veterans Service (BVS)

Member, Virginia War Memorial Board of Trustees

Member, Virginia WW I and WW II Anniversary Commemorative Commission

Member, Virginia-North Carolina High Speed Rail Compact

Member, Potomac and Rappahannock Transportation Commission (PRTC) Board of Commissioners

Member, Virginia Geographic Information Network (VGIN) Advisory Board

Member (2010-2013), Virginia Open Education Curriculum Board

Member, State Advisory Board, Sorensen Institute for Political Leadership, University of Virginia

Member, National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL)

Member, NCSL Executive Committee (2010-2013)

Vice Chair, NCSL Labor & Economic Development (LED) Committee

Member, NCSL Budgets & Revenue Committee

Member, NCSL Natural Resources & Infrastructure Committee

Member, NCSL Task Force on Military & Veterans Affairs

Member, NCSL Task Force on International Relations

Member, Virginia Coalition on Open Government (VCOG)

Member, House Business Development Caucus

Member, House Energy Independence and Economic Security Caucus

Member, House Conservation Caucus

Member, Legislative Sportsman’s Caucus

Member, General Assembly Sunrise Caucus [7]

Awards

USAF:

Combat Readiness Medal (1982)

Humanitarian Service Medal (1983)

Meritorious Service Medal (1984, 1990, 1992)

Global War on Terrorism Service Medal (2003)

Legion of Merit (2006)

Defense Meritorious Service Medal (1997, 2001)

[8]

Electoral history

After his Air Force retirement, Anderson entered politics, gaining the Republican nomination for the Virginia House of Delegates 51st district in the 2009 election. He defeated first-term Democrat Paul F. Nichols by less than two percentage points.[9]

Date Election Candidate Party Votes %
Virginia House of Delegates, 51st district
Nov 3, 2009[10] General Richard L. Anderson Republican 7,940 50.78
Paul F. Nichols Democratic 7,671 49.05
Write Ins 25 0.15
Incumbent lost; seat switched from Democratic to Republican
Nov 8, 2011[11] General Richard L. Anderson Republican 11,296 95.49
Write Ins 533 4.50

References

  1. 1 2 3 "Bio for Richard L. Anderson". Virginia House of Delegates. Retrieved 2013-06-07.
  2. "Legislative Information System". Virginia General Assembly. Retrieved 2013-06-07.
  3. "About Del Rich Anderson". Rich Anderson for Delegate. Retrieved 2013-06-07.
  4. "CAP's National Commander" (PDF). Retrieved February 11, 2011.
  5. "Anderson, Speigel Chosen To Lead CAP's Board of Governors". December 21, 2010. Retrieved February 11, 2011.
  6. http://historical.elections.virginia.gov/elections/view/38777/
  7. http://www.richanderson.com/about/
  8. http://virginiageneralassembly.gov/house/members/members.php?id=H0210
  9. "Hampton Roads - 2009 election results". Retrieved February 25, 2010.
  10. "November 2009 General Election Official Results". Virginia State Board of Elections. Retrieved 2013-06-07.
  11. "November 2011 General Election Official Results". Virginia State Board of Elections. Retrieved 2013-06-07.
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