Mr. Ryszard ‘Rich’ Kaczmarek joined the NSF from the State Department’s Bureau of Overseas Building Operations (OBO), where he served as a senior engineer overseeing broad aspects of physical security engineering at various diplomatic posts.  Prior to OBO, Rich managed comprehensive energy reporting, facilities engineering, and technology programs at the Pentagon for the US Army’s Deputy Chief of Staff for Installations Management (DCS, G-9).  He represented the Army on multiple Department of Defense technical expert panels related to energy and water technology, and facilities engineering.  Rich also served as the Magnetic Silencing Facilities Program Manager for the Engineering and Expeditionary Warfare Center (EXWC), former Naval Facilities Engineering Service Center, where he managed program for worldwide projects supporting Naval deperming and degaussing structures and ranges. 

In his earlier carrier Rich graduated from the US Navy’s Civil Engineer Corps Officer School to serve as the Assistant Resident Officer in Charge of Construction during vibrant $500M reconstruction of the Naval Recruit and Advanced Training Center near Chicago.  Rich served as a US Navy Diving Officer, Engineer in Charge, Company Commander and Offshore Petroleum Discharge System Officer in Charge when assigned to the Amphibious Construction Battalion, then as an Engineering Project Officer with the Multinational Force in Iraq, Deputy Resident Officer in Charge of Construction at Camp Butler Okinawa (Japan), and previously as an Engineman and Surface Rescue Swimmer aboard guided missile destroyer USS RAMAGE, tank landing ship USS LAMOURE COUNTY, and with the NAVAL CARGO HANDLING BATALLION.  Rich’s latest active-duty tours include Advanced Undersea Technology Program (PMS 395) at the Washington Navy Yard and the Production Division Director at the Public Works Department of Camp Lemonier, Djibouti (East Africa).  While serving with the PMS 395, Rich was selected as the NAVSEA’s Engineer of the Year and the following year joined the Top Ten Federal Engineers selected by the National Society of Professional Engineers. 

After two decades of service with the US Navy’s Facilities Engineering and Sea Systems Commands, and before returning to work for the Federal Government, Rich worked in the private sector as the engineering manager for the naval architecture and engineering design firm Gibbs & Cox.  He was commissioned to assist with implementation of the ship-based ballistic missile defense systems in a shore application (AEGIS ashore) in Poland. 

Rich brings a broad experience, backed by the Professional Engineer registrations, full qualification as a Joint Qualified Officer, Surface Warfare Specialist, Seabee Combat Warfare Officer, U.S. Navy’s Deep-Sea Diving and Ocean Facilities Program Officer, and a Defense Acquisition Workforce Improvement Act (DAWIA) Level III Contracting Officer, Level III Facilities Engineer, and the Defense Acquisition Corps professional. 

Rich earned Master of Engineering degree and Technology Management certificate from the University of California (UC Berkeley).  Rich also earned Master of Business Administration from the Webster University, and an undergraduate Ocean Engineering degree with concentration in Naval Architecture, from Virginia Tech.  He is completing doctorate in Critical Infrastructure Program and is a member of several professional societies, including ASNE, SAME, and AUSA. 

Rich is a native of Poland.  He enjoys sailing, skiing, and travelling with his family of wife Dr. Kasia Kaczmarek, and daughters Barbara and Marta. The fifth member of their family is Belgian Malinois named Charlotte.