TOPIC: Responsible Citizens—The Lifeblood of America

SPEAKER: Major General, United States Marine Corps (Ret.)

In his world renowned speech to the French at the Sorbonne on April 23, 1910, T. Roosevelt opined: A democratic republic such as ours—an effort to realize in its full sense government by, of, and for the people—represents the most gigantic of all possible social experiments, the one fraught with great responsibilities alike for good and evil.   This presentation is intended to offer thoughts on the Idea of America—its nature and current condition. . . strengths, weaknesses and challenges; responsibilities of citizens; roles of veterans; and suggestions on ways to keep the gift we have been given, leaving it to our children in as good or better condition than we received it.

BIOGRAPHY

Dave Richwine graduated the University of Kansas (KU) in June 1965, and was commissioned a Second Lieutenant in the U.S. Marine Corps.

In his 32+ years on active duty, he held 25 widely varied primary duty assignments, serving in or visiting more than 30 countries.
He commanded an infantry rifle platoon and rifle company in combat in Vietnam; an F-4 squadron; the Marine Corps Air Station, Beaufort S. C.; and Marine Corps Air Bases, Eastern Area in the U.S.

He served as the executive officer in an infantry company, aviation squadron and Marine Aircraft Group. He also served as a jet flight instructor and as a recruiter of officer candidates.

His staff duties involved strategic planning; aide de camp; and “planning, programming, budgeting, and analysis” functions in major USMC command headquarters as well as in the Pentagon on the staffs of the Secretary of the Navy and Secretary of Defense.
In addition to several shorter, specialized courses of instruction, he graduated with distinction from the Marine Corps Officer Basic School, USAF pilot training, the Marine Corps Amphibious Warfare School, the USAF Air Command and Staff College, and the National War College.

At the time of his retirement, he was serving simultaneously as the Marine Corps’ first Chief Information Officer; the Assistant Chief of Staff, Command, Control, Communications, Computers and Interoperability (C4I); and the Director of Intelligence at Headquarters, U.S. Marine Corps, Washington, D.C.

Leaving active duty, he joined the Armed Forces Communications Electronics Association, International for three years following which he served at the Smithsonian Institution’s National Air and Space Museum as the Director of Development. His service now is focussed on developing the patriotic, responsible citizens who will keep America strong, and he serves in a leadership or advisory capacity on several youth-oriented organizations which contribute to that goal.