Richard Nedelkoff

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The central theme of Richard Nedelkoff’s diverse, 28-year public service career has been his work to reduce bureaucracy, produce quick results, implement innovative programs, and find solutions to problem situations.

In December 2007, Richard was appointed by Texas Governor Rick Perry to serve as Conservator of the Texas Youth Commission. He oversaw the entire operations of a $350 million dollar juvenile justice agency with over 4000 employees. Previously, he served as Chief Operating Officer of Eckerd Youth Alternatives, a national non-profit youth services organization that provides both residential and nonresidential assistance to troubled youth in ten states. From 2003 to 2007 he served as President of Riga Solutions Group, Inc., a national management consulting company that creates solutions for federal, state, and local public safety and human service agencies. 

President George W. Bush appointed Richard as the U.S. Justice Department’s Director of the Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA) in 2001.  Richard managed a $6.5 billion grant portfolio to combat drug-related and violent crime.  Richard coordinated a federal agency wide working group that analyzed and assessed all counterterrorism training offered to state and local law enforcement by the federal government.  The coordinating group identified the most effective training and the delivery mechanism for over 15 federal agencies, including BJA, the Office of Domestic Preparedness, the National Institute of Justice, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the Federal Emergency Management Agency, the Department of Treasury, the Executive Office of U.S. Attorneys, and the Community Oriented Policing Office. 

Additionally, Richard worked with the White House, the Office of Homeland Security, and the National Crime Prevention Council to create United for a Stronger America, a national campaign that includes television, radio, and print documents providing Americans with information on preparing for terrorist emergencies, protecting and comforting families and neighbors, and reporting suspicious behavior.

In 1998, then Governor Bush appointed Richard as Executive Director of the Governor’s Criminal Justice Division.  He worked with the Texas Attorney General to create Texas Exile, a program that aggressively prosecutes gun crimes by cross-certifying prosecutors in state and federal courts.  Additionally, Richard implemented in Texas and then nationally, Project Child Safe, a gun lock giveaway program designed to increase gun and home safety.

Richard has worked in Florida, Virginia, Ohio and Kentucky where he created a host of crime prevention and diversion programs including a Florida initiative that supported grassroots organizations that provide prevention services to at-risk youths in high-crime neighborhoods.

A native of Ohio, Richard received a Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice from Bowling Green State University.  He earned a Master of Science degree in the Administration of Justice from the University of Louisville.  He received his J.D. from Capital University Law School in Columbus, Ohio.