Promoted to captain, he returned to Quantico as a Company Commander at the Staff Non-Commissioned Officer (SNCO) Academy in mid-1975. Captain Richard completed the Amphibious Warfare School at Quantico in June 1977, and subsequently attended the Senior Career Level Advance Course at Fort Sill, Oklahoma. In August 1977, he reported to the 3rd Battalion, 12th Marines as the Fire Support Coordinator for the 4th Marines, and then became the Commanding Officer of Battery H. During 1978, he posted to the Marine Security Guard Battalion, he served as the Executive Officer, Company F, Nairobi, Kenya. Following his promotion to major in 1979, he commanded Company F, Marine Security Guard Battalion, responsible for embassy security guards for sub-Saharan Africa.