Admiral Richardson’s experience leading the U.S. Navy as well as his expertise in nuclear oversight and operational excellence brings invaluable knowledge to the Board and richly informs his leadership of the Nuclear Oversight Committee and his service on the Risk Committee.

Admiral John Richardson served 37 years in the U.S. Navy, completing his service as the Chief of Naval Operations (CNO), the top officer in the Navy. Since retirement, he has joined the boards of several major corporations and other organizations.                                                 

While in the Navy, Richardson served in the submarine force. He commanded the attack submarine USS HONOLULU in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, for which he was awarded the Vice Admiral James Bond Stockdale Inspirational Leadership Award. He went on to command at every level of the Navy.

Richardson served as the Director of Naval Reactors from 2012 until 2015, with responsibility for the full life-cycle, including regulatory responsibilities, of more than 90 reactors operating around the world on nuclear-powered warships. After Naval Reactors, he served as the 31st Chief of Naval Operations, the senior officer in the Navy, from 2015 until August 2019. Richardson retired from the Navy in August 2019.

Since leaving the Navy, Richardson has joined the Board of Directors for The Exelon Corporation, The Boeing Company, and BWX Technologies. He also serves on the Boards of the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, the Center for New American Security, and the Navy League of the United States.

Richardson graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy in 1982 with a Bachelor of Science in physics. He also holds master’s degrees in electrical engineering from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, and a master’s degree in national security strategy from the National War College.