Richard played an integral role in the creation of pivotal CBP policies and programs. As the deputy assistant commissioner in the Office of International Trade, he initiated the formation of the Centers of Excellence and Expertise and managed CBP’s post-entry compliance programs, audits, and broker compliance efforts. Earlier in his tenure, he was appointed director of border targeting and security. In this role, he oversaw CBP’s Automated Targeting System and initiated the Importer Security Filing (ISF) requirement designed to refine CBP’s cargo security efforts. He led the ISF effort from its inception as a proposed rule to its final implementation as a full-fledged operational program. In 2008, Richard was named director of the Secure Freight Initiative (SFI), overseeing the Safe Port Act requirement for the scanning of all cargo containers bound for the United States. He oversaw operations in Europe, Asia, the Middle East, and Central America.
In the early stages of his career, Richard was assigned to the U.S. Customs Headquarters Office of International Affairs, where he served as a program manager overseeing customs cooperative work at the Customs Cooperation Council (now the World Customs Organization) in Brussels. Richard worked on commercial cargo issues and customs enforcement matters in Brussels and was the original U.S. representative presenting the first draft of the revised Kyoto Convention on Customs Clearance Procedures.
In the aftermath of 9/11, Richard was assigned to the original team that created the Customs-Trade Partnership Against Terrorism (C-TPAT) program, a voluntary security program focused on improving the security of private companies' supply chains. In addition to working on the first security criteria for C-TPAT partners, he drafted and secured Office of Personnel Management (OPM) approval of the original position description for the supply chain specialist, a position that is the cornerstone of C-TPAT.