Richard John joined ECES to provide procurement and operational support to SDGN.  He brings twenty-five years experience of operational support tasks within Fragile and Conflict-Affected States (FCAS), predominantly with governance and democracy programming.  This follows a highly successful first career in the British Army, as a supply/logistics Officer - including two operational tours in the former Yugoslavia 1993/94 with UNPROFOR; holding the rank of Major.  His first assignment after leaving the Army was as the Senior Logistics Officer for the UNHCR Airlift into Sarajevo.  Richard started his electoral work in 1996 with the ODIHR before moving to the OSCE Mission in BiH becoming the Director of Election Service.  He brings experience of working under funding from the UK & the USA, as well as the EU.   Richard has work in; Afghanistan, Bosnia, Croatia, Djibouti, Egypt, Ethiopia, Germany, Guinea Bissau, Iraq, Israel (West Bank), Kosovo, Lebanon, Nepal, Pakistan, Serbia, Somalia, & Somaliland, Tunisia, UK, USA and Yemen.  

Richard was educated at the Royal Military Academy, Sandhurst and at the University of Cambridge, where he read a Master of Studies (MPhil) in International Relations.  He is a Member of the Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport (MCILT), a Member of the Association of Project Management (MAPM).   Richard holds a great passion for motorcycle racing and has worked for teams competing at the; Le Mans 24hr, North West 200, and the Isle of Man TT.  Richard also enjoys cycling and was Boat Captain for the Men’s 2nd VIII for his Cambridge College rowing team in 2017.