Rich Anderson

Richard L. Anderson (Rich) represented the 51st House District in the Virginia General Assembly from 2010-2018. While there, he chaired the House Committee on Science and Technology and also chaired the General Assembly Military and Veterans Caucus, the legislative clearing house for initiatives that affect 800,000 Virginia veterans and their dependents. He also chaired the Virginia War Memorial Board of Trustees and sat as a member of the Virginia Board of Veterans Services, the Virginia WWI and WWII Anniversary Commemorative Commission, and the Governor’s Commission on Military Installations and Defense Activities. His non-veteran boards and commissions included service as chair of the Virginia Commission on Civics Education and chair of the Virginia Joint Commission on Technology and Science (JCOTS). He also sat as a member of the Virginia State Crime Commission and the Virginia Commission on Youth.

Rich is a native of Roanoke VA, graduated in 1979 from Virginia Tech, and served for 30 years in the United States Air Force before retiring in 2009 as a colonel. During his military career, he commanded Titan II Intercontinental Ballistic Missile (ICBM) launch centers and combat crews; led and operated a Minuteman II ICBM squadron, missiles, and launch crews; and served at HQ Strategic Air Command, HQ US Atlantic Command, HQ US Pacific Command, HQ US Air Force, and the Office of the Secretary of Defense.

Rich holds a BA degree in Political Science from Virginia Tech and an MA degree in Public Administration from Webster University. He is a graduate of the Air Command and Staff College, Armed Forces Staff College, and Air War College. Rich is married to Ruth M. Anderson, a retired 21-year military veteran and Air Force Nurse Corps leader who served from 2016-2020 as a member of the Prince William County Board of Supervisors. Rich and Ruth reside in Woodbridge, VA, are the parents of three grown children, and are the grandparents of seven.