Millennium Magazine_5th Ed

209 Millennium - A Marquis Who’s Who Magazine P erpetually interested in the field of high-end security, Richard John Speer chose to pursue a career in themilitary due to his father’s service. For his service, Mr. Speer was awarded the Decorated Army Commendation Medal from the U.S. Army in 1984. He was also the recipient of Meritorious Service Medals in 1991, 1996 and 1998. Mr. Speer served in the U.S. Army from 1976 to 1998. He commenced as an infantryman in the 82nd Airborne Division in Fort Bragg, North Carolina, and moved up to an infantry squad leader from 1981 to 1987. Mr. Speer went to Fort Carson, Colorado, for one year in 1987, where he served as an infantry squad leader in the Fourth Infantry Division. He then returned to Fort Bragg, where he became a heavy weapons specialist for the Special Forces from 1988 to 1994. From 1995 until his military retirement in 1998, Mr. Speer was project manager of special projects. Since 2019, Mr. Speer has been a senior security analyst at ARES Security Corporation. From 2017 to 2018, he worked at the Duke Energy Corporate Office for Nuclear Protective Services and was a Duke Corporation Loanee to the Nuclear Energy Institute in Washington, D.C., from 2014 to 2016. Mr. Speer also served as supervisor for fitness of duty for Duke Energy Corporation for one year. In 2012, Mr. Speer was a U.S. congressional candidate for North Carolina’s second congressional district. He was also the lead security specialist for corporate operations of the nuclear department at the Progress Energy Savings Company from 2008 to 2012 and operations support manager and nuclear security consultant at Securitas Security Services from 1998 to 2008. The highlight of Mr. Speer’s career was graduating from the Special Forces qualification course. It was a tough course topass, as less than 20% of those who took it went on to graduate. Mr. Speer thanks his mentor Sergeant Major JimSweeney, whomotivated him throughout the duration of his military service. RICHARD JOHN SPEER SENIOR SECURITY ANALYST ARES Security Corporation Lincolnton, NC GOVERNMENT AND MILITARY