Biography - Richard J Lavigne

Richard Lavigne has a Bachelor of Arts in Criminal Justice and a Master’s of Homeland Security with a concentration in Crisis Management from American Military University. He earned a second Master’s from the National Graduate School in Quality Systems Management with a certification in Lean Six Sigma. He is a doctoral candidate(ABD) pursuing the Doctor of Philosophy in Business Administration focusing on Homeland Security Leadership and Policy at Northcentral University. His dissertation research is focused on improving mobilization readiness of the Coast Guard Reserve.

Lieutenant Commander (LCDR) Lavigne enlisted in the Coast Guard in December 1995 in his home town, Tampa, Florida. His first assignment was Small Boat Station Charlevoix, Michigan. While serving in Michigan, Lavigne held the qualifications of Coxswain, Ice Rescue Team Leader, and Boarding Officer. In 1998, he was transferred to Marine Safety Office Miami and was assigned to the Port Operations Department. Marine Safety qualifications include his designation as Federal on Scene Coordinator Representative (FOSCR), Pollution Investigator, Facility Inspector, Container Inspector, Boarding Officer, and Harbor Safety Officer. Lavigne was selected for Reserve Officer Candidate Indoctrination and transitioned from active duty to the reserve component in August 2000. As a Reserve Ensign assigned to Marine Safety Office Tampa, he served as the unit’s Reserve Training Officer. Mobilized after 9/11 in Tampa, he served as the Law Enforcement Branch Chief and a Command Duty Officer. He was again mobilized in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom and served as the Planning Section Chief for the military out-loads in Jacksonville, Florida. LCDR Lavigne was honored as the 2004 Coast Guard Reserve Officer of the year for his work on the G-8 Summit and the Democratic National Convention. Selected as a Reserve Program Administrator (RPA) in 2005, he served as the Mobilization and Training manager at Coast Guard Headquarters, Reserve Programs and Policy Division (CG-131). LCDR Lavigne then transitioned to the Personnel Service Center, serving as the Branch Chief for Reserve Enlisted Personnel (PSC-rpm-3). A former Deputy Sheriff in Hillsborough County Florida, he was assigned to the Special Operations Division, Homeland Security, and Special Incident Management Team. Rich holds the FEMA Master Exercise Practitioner (MEP) designation. He teaches all levels of the Incident Command System, major incident response planning, WMD responder and awareness courses, and Continuity of Operations Planning (COOP). He is certified by the Department of Homeland Security as a Contracting Officer’s Technical Representative (COTR). Rich has completed the Joint professional Military Education (JPME) requirements through the Naval War College. An adjunct professor at American Military University and Virginia College, Rich teaches graduate and undergraduate courses in homeland security, emergency management, and disaster response. His personal awards include the Meritorious Service Medal, three Coast Guard Commendation Medals, five Coast Guard Achievement Medals, two Commandant's Letter of Commendation Ribbon, the Good Conduct Medal, the Armed Forces Medal, and the Armed Forces Reserve Medal with Mobilization Device (3) and bronze hourglass.

Rich is married to his beloved bride of 20 years and has two sons ages 12 and 14.