MADISON – Richard Landolt graduated from the University of Florida in 1981 with a Navy ROTC scholarship. He quickly started to serve in the U.S. Navy.

“I retired 32 years later as a 2-Star Rear Admiral,” he said.

At the University of Florida, Landolt earned a bachelor’s degree in political science and a master’s degree in Telecommunications Systems Management.

“I commanded three ships, an amphibious squadron and an Aircraft Carrier Battle Group,” Landolt said. “I had four Pentagon tours and four assignments in Europe.” He completed three tours on NATO staffs (which includes his last tour when Landolt was a civilian).

Landolt’s hometown is Hollywood, Fla. “We moved to Madison two years ago (2021). I visited the Huntsville area in 2015 for the first time and was impressed with all it had to offer my family,” he said.

“Beth, my wife, is a massage practitioner. (Our) son Joshua, 15 years old, will attend Bob Jones High School” starting in the 2023-2024 school year, Landolt said.

In civic involvement, Richard Landolt is a member of Rotary Club of Madison; Madison American Legion, Post 229; the Military Officers Association or MOAA; and the Surface Navy Association.

“I have a part-time position as an Analyst for the Center of Naval Analysis, which is a think tank in the Washington D.C. area,” Landolt said. In addition, Landolt serves as the President and CEO of Still Serving Veterans, which honors veteran families by empowering them to build meaningful lives through connections to fulfilling careers, benefits and services and to proactively strengthen veteran communities through leadership and collaboration. (www.ssv.org)