Rich Anderson (Virginia politician)

Richard L. "Rich" Anderson (born May 30, 1955) is an American politician. From 2010 through 2018 he 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 lost his reelection bid in Virginia's November 2017 election. Since 2020, Anderson serves as the Chairman of the Republican Party of Virginia.

Not to be confused with Rich Anderson (Iowa politician).
Rich Anderson
Chair of the Virginia Republican Party
Assumed office
August 15, 2020
Preceded byJack Wilson
Member of the Virginia House of Delegates
from the 51st district
In office
January 13, 2010 – January 10, 2018
Preceded byPaul F. Nichols
Succeeded byHala Ayala
Personal details
Born (1955-05-30) May 30, 1955
Roanoke, Virginia, U.S.
Political partyRepublican
Spouse(s)Ruth Valentine
EducationVirginia Tech (BA)
Webster University (MPA)
WebsiteOfficial website
Military service
Branch/service United States Air Force
Years of service1979–2009
RankColonel (USAF)
Brigadier General (CAP)
CommandsNational Commander of the Civil Air Patrol (1993–1996)

Anderson chaired the House Committee on Science and Technology (2010–2017), and served on the House committees on Finance (2010–2017), General Laws (2010–2017), and Transportation (2012–2017).[2]

Early life and 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]

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

Anderson has several awards from the U.S. Air Force:[8]

  • 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)

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]

DateElectionCandidatePartyVotes%
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. "Bio for Richard L. Anderson". Virginia House of Delegates. Retrieved 2013-06-07.
  2. "Legislative Information System". Virginia General Assembly. Archived from the original on 1996-12-19. 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. Archived from the original on 2014-01-03. Retrieved 2013-06-07.
  11. "November 2011 General Election Official Results". Virginia State Board of Elections. Archived from the original on 2014-01-03. Retrieved 2013-06-07.
Party political offices
Preceded by
Jack Wilson		 Chair of the Virginia Republican Party
2020–present		 Incumbent
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