Robert Richards

Robert Richards is a defense technology executive with more than 13 years of experience helping high-growth companies scale and achieve successful investor outcomes. Throughout his career, he has helped generate more than $5 billion in enterprise value through successful investor exits.

Prior to joining SPA’s Board of Directors, Mr. Richards served as Chief Financial Officer of BlueHalo, where he led the integration of 14 acquisitions to build a defense technology company with product offerings spanning space, directed energy, counter-unmanned aircraft systems (C-UAS), and intelligence solutions. He helped guide the company through its successful sale to AeroVironment.

Before joining BlueHalo, Mr. Richards served as Chief Financial Officer of Centauri, where he helped build the company through the acquisition and integration of six organizations while driving significant double-digit organic growth. He played a key role in the company’s successful sale to KBR. Earlier in his career, Mr. Richards led an employee buyout of National Technologies Associates, streamlined operations, improved cash flow, and completed the organization’s first acquisition.

Mr. Richards earned an MBA in Finance from the University of Maryland and a bachelor’s degree from William & Mary. He has been recognized as a Washington Business Journal C-Suite Award winner, one of DC Live Media’s Trending 40: Rising Stars in Federal Technology, and a Northern Virginia Technology Council CFO of the Year finalist.