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 a U.S. Navy–Coast Guard task force back in 1997, we ran the .50 cals, 25mm gatling guns and 5-inch deck guns across the Eastern Pacific and Caribbean. The runners took one look and started dumping cargo — about $6 billion of it. The Coast Guard swooped in, nabbed a few, and we called it a day. Mission accomplished!
He’s got moves!
Was born in New York. High school was in New Jersey. College was in Massachusetts. Navy tours took me to California and Virginia. Professional roles landed me in Kentucky, Ohio, Florida, North Carolina, and now Georgia. I’ve explored or lived in 82% of the U.S. (including Washington, D.C.).
42 states (+ Washington DC) lived in or visited
I’ve called 15 states home so far. Here’s the full list of U.S. states I’ve lived in 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, Georgia, Maryland, North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia.
- Midwest: Kentucky, Ohio.
- West: California
50 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 50 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.
Colombia, Ecuador
Austria, Croatia, Denmark, Estonia, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Poland, Russia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Türkiye, United Kingdom, England, Scotland, Wales (UK parts counted separately for travel highlights).
Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates.
China, India, Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, Vietnam (with Hong Kong and Macau as special regions of China, counted within).
Family: The Heart of it All
I’m the proud father of three amazing adults: Cynthia, Benjamin, and Allyssa. Cynthia is married to a wonderful man, Yohan, adding joy to our family circle.
In January 2026, I lost my wife Karen to Waldenström’s with secondary AL amyloidosis. She led with a heart of service — a 30-year oncology nurse and a small business owner — and that spirit is remembered here.
Home base is Atlanta, and it’s a zoo in the best way, with a crew of dogs and cats offering endless love and laughter. In my downtime I enjoy live music, fine dining, and traveling the world to explore new cultures.
It’s all about intentional engagement—empowering those around me, just like in my professional life.
