COL Richard W. Bregard

COL Richard W. Bregard joined the United States Army as an infantryman in 1959. In 1967, COL Bregard was selected to attend the Officer's Candidate School (OCS) in Aberdeen Proving Grounds, Maryland, where he received his commission as an Ordnance Officer in 1968.

COL Bregard's first notable assignment was as an Electronic Maintenance Platoon Leader in the 9th Infantry Division in Vietnam, after which he returned to command a company at the Ordnance Missile and Munitions Center and School in Redstone from 1969 to 1971. Other assignments include working in the STINGER Project Office from 1967 to 1978, becoming the first TRADOC Munition Systems Manager in 1983, and later commanding the Mississippi Army Ammunition Plant, the first of its kind built since WWII. He later commanded Rock Island Arsenal during Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm, bringing its manufacturing capacity to full wartime production. COL Bregard’s final assignments included the Office of the Armored Force Modernization at Picatinny Arsenal and Director of Systems Acquisition Office at US Army Material Command.

COL Bregard’s notable awards and decorations include the Distinguished Service Medal, Legion of Merit with two Oak Leaf Clusters, Bronze Star with Oak Leaf Clusters, Meritorious Service Medal with three Oak Leaf Clusters, Air Medal second award, Army Commendation Medal with Combat Distinguishing Device “V”, Army Good Conduct Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Republic of Vietnam Service Medal third award, and the Ordnance Order of Samuel Sharpe.

After 38 years of distinguished military service, COL Bregard retired from the Army in 1997, but continued to support the Department of Defense, the United States Army, and the Ordnance Corps. After retirement he worked in the government contracting sector supporting weapons systems to increase battlefield lethality, such as fielding the first Smart Artillery Munition. He also devoted time to various charitable organizations.