About Richard
Richard Leaton Personal Bio
GROWING UP
Growing up as the youngest of seven boys in a big, bustling family taught me early on that connection is everything—whether it’s building theatrical lighting consoles at age 12 or tracing my grandfather’s WWI submarine stories.
Those tales of bravery in the depths of the ocean ignited my fascination with service and leadership, drawing me toward the Navy and a life of empowering others, much like the intentional engagement I champion today. But life’s real lessons? They’ve come from the people I’ve met along the way.
As the gunnery officer in the U.S. Navy-Coast Guard task force back in 1997, we unleashed the .50 cals, 25mm gatling guns, and 5-inch deck guns, scaring the drug runners so bad they needed a fresh pair of drawers while dropping their $6 billion haul across the Eastern Pacific and Caribbean. The Coast Guard swooped in, nabbed some of them, and we called it a day. Mission accomplished!
He’s got moves!
was born in New York. My family moved to New Jersey for high school. College was in Massachusetts. Navy tours took me to California and Virginia. Professional roles landed me in Kentucky, Ohio, Florida, and now North Carolina. I’ve explored or lived in 78% of the U.S. (including Washington, D.C.).
39 states (+ Washington DC) lived in or visited
I’ve called 14 states home so far. Here’s the full list of U.S. states I’ve lived in, visited, or worked in, grouped by region, with each listed comma-separated (bolded for easy reference—and to help me remember them too!):
- Northeast: Connecticut, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island.
- Mid-Atlantic/South: Florida, Kentucky, Maryland, North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia.
- Midwest: Ohio.
- West: California
45 countries or protectorates visited
By land, by sea, by air
Travel isn’t a hobby; it’s how I recharge and gain perspective. I’ve visited or worked in 45 countries across four continents. To make it crystal clear (and jog my memory), here’s the full list of countries, grouped by region
Bonaire, British Virgin Islands, Canada, Dominica, Grenada, Guatemala, Jamaica, Martinique, Mexico, Panama, Puerto Rico, St. Lucia, St. Martin/Sint Maarten (counted as one island), United States.
South America (2)
Austria, Croatia, Denmark, Estonia, France, Germany, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Russia, Sweden, Switzerland, United Kingdom, England, Scotland, Wales (UK parts counted separately for travel highlights).
Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates.
China, Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, Vietnam (with Hong Kong and Macau as special regions of China, counted within).
Family: The Heart of it All
Karen, the kids, and our furry crew—my heart in North Carolina!
Married to my incredible wife, Karen, for over 30 years, we’re proud parents to three amazing adults: Cynthia, Benjamin, and Allyssa. Cynthia is married to a wonderful man, Yohan, adding joy to our family circle. Our home is a zoo in the best way—dogs, cats, and endless laughter.
In my downtime, I dive into genealogy, hit the road for new cultures, or volunteer (like with Charlotte Tool Bank or United Way).
It’s all about intentional engagement—empowering those around me, just like in my professional life.
