Rich Anderson (Virginia politician)

Not to be confused with Rich Anderson (Iowa politician).

• United States Air Force
  • Civil Air Patrol

Rich Anderson
Official portrait, 1993
Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Manpower and Reserve Affairs
Nominee
Assuming office TBD
Years of service	1979–2009
Rank	Colonel (USAF) Brigadier General (CAP)
Commands	National Commander of the Civil Air Patrol (1993–1996)

Richard L. Anderson (born May 30, 1955) is an American politician. From 2010 through 2018 he served in the Virginia House of Delegates, representing the 51st district in the Prince William County suburbs of Washington, D.C. He is a member of the Republican Party. ^[1] Anderson lost his reelection bid in Virginia's November 2017 election. From 2020 to 2025, Anderson served as the Chairman of the Republican Party of Virginia. He was nominated to become an Assistant Secretary of the Air Force by President Donald Trump in March 2025.

Anderson chaired the House Committee on Science and Technology (2010–2017), and served on the House committees on Finance (2010–2017), General Laws (2010–2017), and Transportation (2012–2017). ^[2]

Early life and career

Anderson was born in Roanoke, Virginia, and attended Northside High School there. He received a B.A. degree in political science from Virginia Tech in 1979. ^[1]

Anderson was commissioned in the United States Air Force after graduation, serving as a nuclear missile operations officer in Titan II and Minuteman II intercontinental ballistic missile units, as well as other command and staff positions. He received an M.A. in public administration from Webster University in 1982. He also attended the Air War College, Air Command and Staff College and Armed Forces Staff College. He retired in 2009 in the rank of colonel. His wife, the former Ruth Valentine, also served in the U.S. Air Force for 21 years. ^{[1] [3]}

Anderson joined the Civil Air Patrol (CAP) as a cadet in 1969, and has been a CAP member since then. He progressed through the cadet program, becoming the 200th recipient of the General Carl A. Spaatz Award and promoting to the grade Cadet Colonel. He served as National Commander with the CAP rank of brigadier general August 1993 – August 1996, ^[4] and was chairman of the CAP Board of Governors February 2011 – February 2013. ^[5]

Political career

After his U.S. Air Force retirement, Anderson entered politics, gaining the Republican nomination for the Virginia House of Delegates 51st district in the 2009 election. He defeated first-term Democrat Paul F. Nichols by less than two percentage points. ^[6] Anderson ran unopposed in 2011, and defeated Democrat Reed Heddleston by roughly 2,000 votes in 2013. In 2015, Anderson ran unopposed for re-election to his fourth term in office.

Anderson was chairman of the Virginia House Committee on Science and Technology.

In 2020, Anderson was elected to a four-year term as Chairman of the Virginia Republican Party. ^[7]

In March 2025, Anderson was nominated by President Donald Trump to become an Assistant Secretary of the Air Force. He announced in a letter that he would step down as Chairman of the Virginia Republican Party once he was confirmed by the Senate. ^[8]

Electoral history

After his U.S. Air Force retirement, Anderson entered politics, gaining the Republican nomination for the Virginia House of Delegates 51st district in the 2009 election. He defeated first-term Democrat Paul F. Nichols by less than two percentage points. ^[9]

Date	Election	Candidate	Party	Votes	%
Virginia House of Delegates, 51st district
Nov 3, 2009 [10]	General	Richard L. Anderson	Republican	7,940	50.78
		Paul F. Nichols	Democratic	7,671	49.05
		Write Ins		25	0.15
		Incumbent lost; seat switched from Democratic to Republican
Nov 8, 2011 [11]	General	Richard L. Anderson	Republican	11,296	95.49
		Write Ins		533	4.50

References

1. "Bio for Richard L. Anderson". Virginia House of Delegates. Retrieved June 7, 2013.
2. "Legislative Information System". Virginia General Assembly. Archived from the original on December 19, 1996. Retrieved June 7, 2013.
3. "About Del Rich Anderson". Rich Anderson for Delegate. Retrieved June 7, 2013.
4. "CAP's National Commander" (PDF). Retrieved February 11, 2011.
5. "Anderson, Speigel Chosen To Lead CAP's Board of Governors". December 21, 2010. Retrieved February 11, 2011.
6. "Virginia Elections Database » 2009 House of Delegates General Election District 51".
7. "Leadership & Staff".
8. Vozzella, Laura (March 11, 2025). "Trump names Va. GOP Chair Rich Anderson Air Force assistant secretary". The Washington Post . Retrieved March 12, 2025. President Donald Trump on Tuesday named Virginia GOP Chairman Rich Anderson to serve as assistant secretary of the Air Force, where the retired colonel had served for 30 years before leaving the Pentagon for politics in 2009... No date was immediately set for the GOP to replace Anderson because the timing of his Senate Armed Services Committee confirmation hearing and a vote by the full Senate are yet to be determined, Anderson said in a written statement.
9. "Hampton Roads - 2009 election results" . Retrieved February 25, 2010.
10. "November 2009 General Election Official Results". Virginia State Board of Elections. Archived from the original on January 3, 2014. Retrieved June 7, 2013.
11. "November 2011 General Election Official Results". Virginia State Board of Elections. Archived from the original on January 3, 2014. Retrieved June 7, 2013.

External links

• "Rich Anderson". Virginia Public Access Project. (campaign finance)
• "Delegate Rich Anderson (R-Woodbridge)". Richmond Sunlight.
• "Election Results". Virginia State Board of Elections. Archived from the original on April 29, 2013.

Party political offices
Preceded by Jack Wilson	Chair of the Virginia Republican Party 2020–2025	Succeeded by Mark Peake