Mark Richards

Mark Richards is a lecturer within the Tulane University, School of Professional Advancement, Emergency and Security Studies Program.

Mark holds an Associate of Science in Criminal Justice from Nicholls State University in Thibodaux, Louisiana; a Bachelor of Arts in History from Excelsior College in Albany, New York; and a Master of Public Administration from Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. He is also a graduate of the Northwestern University School of Police Staff and Command, and the Northwestern University Executive Management Program in Evanston, Illinois. During his academic career, he has been selected for and maintains active memberships in Phi Kappa Phi, Omicron Delta Kappa, and Pi Alpha.

A twenty-four year veteran of the Louisiana State Police, Mark has served the past eight years as a State Police Captain. He served as Director of Training for the Louisiana State Police with operational authority over the Louisiana State Police Training Academy, where he was responsible for Cadet training, In-Service training, and other agency training. Mark's previous command-level assignment was in the Crisis Response Section. In this capacity, he exercised operational authority over the Louisiana State Police Emergency Operations Center, Special Weapons and Tactics Team, Air Support Unit, Region 1 Communications Unit, Radio Communications Section, and Mobile Command Posts. His major roles in this position were to serve as the ESF 13 (Public Safety and Security) Lead for the State of Louisiana, and as Emergency Manager for the Louisiana State Police. Prior to his command-level assignments, Mark held the positions of Trooper, Sergeant, and Lieutenant in various divisions of State Police. As a Trooper, he served at Troop C in Houma, Louisiana, for ten years before transferring to the Crisis Response Section. As a Sergeant, Mark had assignments in the Concealed Handguns Unit and at the Louisiana State Police Crime Laboratory. As a Lieutenant in the Criminal Investigations Division, Mark served as the Division's Executive Officer.

Mark brings vast practical and academic experience as an Emergency Manager and law enforcement professional to the Emergency and Security Studies Program at Tulane University.