In Loving Memory | Rear Admiral Richard “Dick” E. Young

Rear Admiral Richard “Dick” E. Young 
1931 – 2026      In 2009, Governor Bill Ritter asked Dick to serve as Chair of the Colorado Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve (ESGR), a Department of Defense agency. During his tenure he received numerous awards and recognition for turning the Colorado ESGR into the largest and most productive state ESGR in the country.

Dick Young was my mentor and a defining influence on my life. He entrusted me with extraordinary opportunities and, without hesitation, absorbed the pressure that leadership inevitably brings. He protected those he believed in, often at personal cost.

I witnessed him confront prejudice within our community with absolute resolve. There was nothing passive about his leadership—he met injustice head-on, with clarity, courage, and an unyielding moral compass. He was among the toughest leaders I have known, yet always one of the most fair-minded.

He pushed me beyond my perceived limits—again and again. In doing so, he taught me that true leadership is not about relentless pressure alone, but about developing people for the long term. He demanded that I live the values I spoke about, and through that discipline, helped me become a better leader and a better human being than I ever thought possible.

The lessons he imparted remain central to how I lead and serve today. My mother and I modeled our charitable work after the command structure and philosophy he demonstrated at ESGR—service rooted in integrity, accountability, and care for people. By following his example, we were privileged to serve more than 10,000 active-duty and retired service members and their families.

What a privilege and honor it was to serve under such leadership. Rear Admiral Richard “Dick” E. Young was truly a force of nature, and I will remain grateful for his impact for the rest of my life.

At ease, Admiral. Rest in peace, Sir.

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