Rick Bedford

Last updated Aug 14, 2008

President, USMCFSA

Major Richard D. Bedford USMC (Retired)

Major Richard D. Bedford, USMC (Ret) is a native of Birmingham, AL. He enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps in October 1980, and graduated from MCRD, Parris Island, SC. During his first ten years of service, he served as an enlisted Marine in various food service assignments, and as a Marine Recruiter.

He was selected for the Warrant Officer Program in 1990. Over the next ten years, he served as the Food Service Officer (FSO) for Weapons Battalion, Camp Pendleton, CA and 2d FSSG, Camp Lejeune, NC, and as the Deputy Director/Academics Officer at USMC Food Service School, Fort Lee, VA, attaining the rank of CWO4 in 1999.

He was selected for the Limited Duty Officer Program in 2000, and promoted to Captain. He then served as the FSO at 29 Palms, CA and 3d FSSG on Okinawa, and as the Operations Officer at HQMC (LFS-4). Upon his promotion to Major in 2004, he was assigned as the Director of the USMC Food Service Program. He was transferred to Marine Corps Detachment Fort Lee, VA in June 2005 as the Director, USMC Food Service Training/Detachment XO. In October 2005, Major Bedford assumed command of the Detachment; the first Battalion-level command assigned to a Food Service Officer in recent history. Major Bedford retired from the Marine Corps in October 2006, with nearly 26 years of active duty.

His personal decorations included: The Meritorious Service Medal (3 awards), the Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal (3 awards), the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal (4 awards), the Marine Corps Good Conduct Medal (3 awards) and numerous other awards.

Following his active duty service, he accepted employment at HQMC (LFS-4) as a Program Analyst, currently managing the USMC Regional Garrison Food Service Contract, supporting all USMC garrison mess halls in the continental United States.

He holds a BA in Political Science from UNC-Wilmington, and an MS in Public Administration from Central Michigan University. He has been married for 21 years to the former Tina Labonte of Auburn, Maine. They currently reside in Chester, VA and have two sons, Gerald (age 20) and David (age 17).

In July 2002 he was appointed as the first U.S. Marine Corps Food Service Association Active Duty Liaison Officer, and was elected to the Board of Directors in July 2003 for four years and to the Office of Vice President for a two year term. On September 8, 2005 he was re-elected to serve a second two year term as Vice President of our Board of Directors. In September 2007, he was re-elected to the Board of Directors, and subsequently elected President of the Association.