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Speaker: Richard Nikoley
Personal Biography

Born & raised in Reno, Nevada. I attended and graduated from a small, religious-oriented private high school. Went on to attend a first year of college at a religious-oriented school in Chattanooga, Tennessee. I have had no interest in religious matters whatsoever for more than 25 years and don't plan on doing so again.

"Nothing in biology makes sense except in the light of evolution." - Theodosius Dobzhansky

I Graduated Oregon State University in 1984 with a bachelor's in Business Administration and two minor courses of study in mathematics / computer science, and naval science.

I was commissioned in the US Navy as a Surface Warfare Officer (SWO) immediately upon graduation from OSU. After some 8 months attending various schools in San Diego, CA, I traveled off to Yokosuka, Japan to join my first ship, the USS REEVES (CG-24), where I served from 1984-1987 as the Assistant Missiles Officer, First Lieutenant, and then finally, Electrical Officer.

After those first three years in Japan, I crossed the pier for another two years, joining the U.S. SEVENTH FLEET embarked aboard USS BLUE RIDGE (LCC-19). From 1988-1989 I was both the Assistant Fleet Scheduling Officer and the Assistant Logistics Officer. I managed a fuel budget of $180 million.

I left Japan after five years and headed to Monterey, California, where I was a student at the Defense Language Institute for the latter half of 1989. Upon successful completion of the French language course, I headed to Toulon, France, where from late 1989 -- early 1992 I took up duties an exchange officer with the French Navy: first aboard the FNS COLBERT (C 611), and later, the FNS DUQUESNE (D 603), both as the Navigator.

I left the US Navy in 1992 and returned to the U.S., San Francisco Bay Area. After a few false starts in entrepreneurial endeavors, I started a company in my bedroom in the summer of 1993 that evolved into what is today, Provanta Corp. I still regularly harass a modest cabal of employees.

Activity wise, I took up the sport of Hang-Gliding in 1996, and powered aircraft in 2005. Though I've soloed in the powered plane, I've yet to complete licensing requirements but plan too someday. I also fly sailplanes now and then.

In 2011 I celebrated my 10 year anniversary with my wife, Beatrice.

Visit Richard at http://FreetheAnimal.com