About Chris Richie

Chris brings lived leadership experience forged in high‑stakes environments where character matters. He has proven leadership experience across diverse landscapes to include the military, higher education, and several boards of directors’ positions. His background is based on leadership experiences forged as a Board of directors’ officer, a Marine Commander, a change agent in higher education, and authoring an Amazon best-selling leadership book. Public speaking became a passion while serving as a Marine Corps officer; today, he enjoys sharing stories on leadership to inspire and motivate leaders of every age with lessons from the war-room, the boardroom, and the classroom.

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My passion is helping people achieve their full potential. During my 35-year leadership journey, I have studied, taught, and filled leadership roles, and I am still learning to lead. I enjoy serving as a keynote speaker, consultant, mentor, panelist, conference break-out speaker, workshop facilitator, and instructor. Let me know if I can be of service to you or your team. invisiblemedal@gmail.com.

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* Three decades experience leading Marines in times of peace and war (1992-2022)

- Chief Executive for the largest Aviation Command & Control unit in the Marine Corps (2,500 people).

- Executive Steering Committee Chairman for a worldwide community of 10,000 aviation command & control professionals. 

- Previous board member of the Alabama Military Hall of Honor and the most senior active-duty Marine in the State of Alabama (2018-2022).

* Five years' experience leading teams in higher education (2022-2026)

- Director, Human Resource (Organizational) Development.

- Architect of Aspire Auburn Leadership Development Program with over 2,500 enrollments in the first 20 months.  Aspire Auburn | Office of Human Resources 

- Aspire Auburn is a nationally recognized program leading to an improved culture of teamwork and commitment to excellence, integrity, and respect.

- Recipient of an Auburn Author Awards (2025). 

* Established public speaker with hundreds of engagements including:

- Keynote addresses for San Diego World Affairs council; Auburn University; All-in Credit Union; Marine Corps.

- Radio stations and Podcasts for Courage Radio; Rise Up San Diego; Tall Tales with Taco.

- Conference speaker (Auburn HR Conference; SACUBO Leadership Forum; CUPA-HR Spring Conference; CUPA-HR Regional Conference). 

- Panelist & Guest Speaker: Auburn University; Troy University; All-in Credit Union; Community leadership organizations (Chamber of commerce; City of Opelika; Leadership Montgomery; Leadership Lee County); Veteran's Organizations; and Marine Corps (Dining out; Mess Night; Birthday Ball; Retirement ceremonies).

*Author of two Amazon #1 new release/best-sellers

- The Invisible Medal: Leading with a Higher Purpose, Next Chapter Publishing, April 2024.

- The Ladybug’s Gift, Next Chapter Publishing, October 2020.

* Three-time award-winning leadership author in addition to numerous publications

- Try the TEAM Principle, U.S. Naval Proceedings, July 2001

- SPMAGTF Leaders in Action, Marine Corps Gazette, August 2012

- Leadership Lessons from Nicaragua, Marine Corps Gazette, July 2020

- We Need War Principles for Our Generation, Amazon, November 2012

* Award-winning leadership instructor with eight years collegiate teaching experience

- Instructor Excellence Award (2021) and Director’s Servant Leadership award (2022).

- Air War College seminars classes (2018-2022): Strategic Leadership, Public speaking & Storytelling, Leading Large Organizations.

- Auburn University classes and workshops (2021-present):  Ethics, Leadership, Culture, Enneagram, DISC, Team building; Decision-making, Leading with Purpose, Organizational Culture, Lead with T-E-A-M-S.

* Top military Achievements

- The only aviation command and control officer to have served as a MAGTF Commander.

- Organizations under my direct supervision were awarded with the following:  Secretary of Defense Navy Unit Commendation, Air Command and Control Unit of the Year.

- Personal awards include Air Command and Control Officer of the Year, Defense Superior Service Medal, Legion of Merit, 10 additional personal awards for leadership, 5 deployments supporting combat and humanitarian operations.