2363: Expert Marksman

2371: Klingon War Service

2373: Starfleet Commendation

2373: Combat Infantry

2363: SFMC Basic Training

2364: Marine Security Guard School

2369: University of Notre Dame (Non-Resident Program): B.A. Political Science and B.S. Psychology

2372: Starfleet Postgraduate School (Non-Resident Program): M.A. Political Science (Interplanetary Affairs)

2373: Emergency MOS Retraining, Infantry, Mars

2380: The Fletcher School, Tufts University: Masters Arts in Law and Diplomacy (MALD)

2382: The Fletcher School, Tufts University: Ph.D, Interplanetary Affairs

2364: Assigned, Marine Security Guard, Federation Embassy Bilaren

2366: Transferred, Marine Security Guard, Federation Embassy Denobula Triaxa

2368: Transferred, Staff Instructor, Marine Security Guard School, Mars

2369: Transferred, Marine Security Guard/Staff NCO, Federation Embassy Qo'noS

2371: Transferred, Marine Attaché, U.S.S. Winston

2372: Transferred, Senior Cadre, Marine Security Guard School, Mars

2373: Assigned, Company Gunnery Sergeant, Echo company, 2nd Marine BTTN, 23rd Marine Regiment

2375: Assigned, Non-Commissioned Officer-in-charge, Marine Security Guard Detachment, Federation Embassy Bajor

2377: Assigned, Senior NCO & Marine Attaché, Starfleet/Bajoran Militia Integration Unit, Bajor

2378: Assigned, SFMC Reserve, Staff Training Officer, Starfleet Command, Earth

2382: Promoted, SFMC Reserve, Arthur Jay Fellow, Starfleet Academy, Earth

2384: Direct Commission, Starfleet Liaison Corps

2384: Assigned, Diplomatic Officer, USS Galaxy

Through his years in the Starfleet Marine Corps, John Richardson was always regarded as something of a "book-worm". Never truly a "Gung ho" Marine, John enjoyed being stationed in remote Federation Embassies, as it gave him plenty of free time to study and exercise. His intellect and quick wit made John a favorite among his fellow Marine Security Guards, and Richardson found the early years of his career to be generous with both good assignment and opportunities for advancement.

By 2372, Staff Sergeant Richardson had "run the gauntlet" in the SFMC; having been stationed at 3 Federation Embassies, received his Bachelors and Masters Degrees from non-resident programs, and seen some combat in the Klingon Civil War while stationed on Qo'noS. Richardson intended to leave the Marine Corps and studying for his doctorate degree, delighted at the thought of teaching at a small University somewhere on Risa.

The outbreak of the Dominion War swiftly changed Richardson's fanciful plans, and saw the NCO get retrained and deployed for infantry service. The motto of "every Marine is a Rifleman" was perhaps exemplified with Richardson, who saw combat duty and patrols for nearly two straight years. His leadership and relative cool under fire earned him the respect of seniors and subordinates alike, and in 2374 Richardson was promoted to Sergeant First Class and assumed the post of "Company Gunny", the senior NCO of Echo Company.

Gunny Richardson's multiple combat tours made him seriously rethink his plans to leave Starfleet following the Federation's victory in the Dominion War. The galaxy was torn apart from the vicious war, and John decided he could be a better use to everyone inside the Marine Corps, rather than sitting behind a nice oak desk. As a decorated Senior NCO, SFC Richardson had his choice of assignments, and choose to work at the Federation Embassy on Bajor, where he was the NCOIC of the Marine Security Guard Embassy detachment from 2375-2377.

Following that highly successful tour, Master Sergeant Richardson was assigned as the senior Non-Commissioned Officer to the Starfleet / Bajoran militia integration unit. Richardson helped to train Non-Commissioned Officers of the Bajoran Militia transfer into Starfleet following the planet's long-awaited acceptance into the Federation in 2376.

John very much enjoyed his assignment on Bajor, but found himself to be at a crossroad in his career. Master Sergeant Richardson had always enjoyed working and interacting with different cultures, and indeed his Embassy experience helped to shape his interplanetary focus as he studied for his Political Science Degrees. But the active and "hand's on" assignments were a bit below his paygrade, and any further promotions would put him behind a desk at Starfleet Command.

John discussed his problems with the Bajoran Attaché Officer, Starfleet Lieutenant Victor Vandrell, who recommended the Liaison Corps to Richardson. In Vandrell's words, working as Diplomatic Officer was "part intelligence, part academic, and a healthily dose of soldiering all rolled into one neat box." John saw the change of career as an outstanding opportunity, and decided to reenter the academic world full-time in order to receive a world-class diplomatic education. He hoped that a Ph.D and further language expertise would make him competitive for these highly sought-after commissions.

John transferred into the Marine Reserves with a promotion to Warrant Officer in December of 2378, and began his studies at the prestigious Fletcher School at Tufts University on Earth. John spent 4 years completely devoted to his studies, earning his Masters in Law and Diplomacy and Doctorate degree in Interplanetary Affairs. In John's mind, the only way the Federation would be able to heal and prevent further catastrophic war was through steady and active diplomatic relations.

John's published Thesis on the Cardassian Electoral system won him multiple awards, the most prestigious of which was the Arthur Jay Post-Doctoral Fellowship at Starfleet Academy. From late 2382-early 2384, John taught Interplanetary Relations in the Political Science Department.

Although offered an Assistant Professorship at Starfleet Academy, Richardson longed to do more than just write papers about Diplomacy. Feeling that he was finally prepared to apply for the Liaison Corps Direct Commission, Chief Warrant Officer Richardson was surprised to hear (only one week after submitting his application) that he was to be directly commissioned and immediately reassigned. John was even more surprised to find that his first ship would be the U.S.S. Galaxy; the famous ship-of-the-line that may of his own students at the Academy would have died to serve aboard.

John enjoys living simply, and has very few personal possessions. He always wears a watch on his wrist; because even though obsolete, they show that Richardson is a man who cares about how his time is spent. John also writes any notes or letters he sends to others in pen, believing that handwriting a message shows a man who dedicated and thoughtful.

While John is exceptionally good at reading others, he has a hard time battling his own internal demons. The heavy losses his Company suffered during the Dominion War affected him greatly. Richardson takes his job as a Diplomatic Officer very seriously, not wishing to see other leaders suffer the pain and helplessness that follows the loss of soldiers in War.