company overview
management team
advisory board

Robert Bernstein | Melissa Katz Dakoff | Ed Voltan
Richard E. Haddad | Brian David Rosen

Richard E. Haddad, President, Meggitt Training System

Rich is a proud graduate of the US Naval Academy, class of 1984. Upon receiving his commission as a 2nd Lieutenant in the United States Marine Corps, Rich served 7 years of active duty, serving combat tours as an Intelligence Officer in both Operations Just Cause and Desert Shield/Storm, as well as counterinsurgency operations in Central America and the Drug War in South America. After leaving active duty he completed his MBA in Marketing (1993) and joined H.B. Fuller, a billion dollar chemical company in MN. He held a variety of business development, marketing and product commercialization positions during his 5 years with the company. Two of those years he spent as General Manager, H.B. Fuller Adhesives (China), Ltd, a joint venture with the Guangdong Government.

In 1998 Rich joined TALPX, Inc. a start-up internet commodity exchange in the softwood lumber market. Following 9/11, Rich was recalled to active duty and served two years at the Pentagon, supporting the War on Terror in Marine Corps Intelligence. Following active duty Rich returned to Minnesota and joined Meggitt Defense Systems. He worked in Business Development, Government Relations and most recently in Mergers and Acquisitions. Following the acquisition of Firearms Training Systems, by Meggitt Defense Systems (Oct ’06), Rich took the position of President, Meggitt Training Systems. Meggitt Training Systems is a combination of Meggitt Defense Systems’ training businesses in Georgia, Minnesota, Canada, Australia and the UK.

Rich retired from the Marine Corps Reserve as a Lieutenant Colonel in February 2008, most recently serving as the Executive Officer, Marine Wing Support Squadron 471. Among Rich’s most prestigious military decorations are the Purple Heart, Meritorious Service Medal, Joint Service Commendation Medal, Navy Commendation Medal and Army Commendation Medal. While at the Naval Academy Rich played rugby and was the Brigade Heavyweight boxing champion in 1984. Rich was a player on the Marine Corps Rugby team (’85-’88), captain of the team (’89) and Officer in Charge of the team (’02-’03) over a 20 year career that included three military club championships and two inter-service championships. He has served on the boards of the Naval Academy Alumni Association (Chicago) and the Marine Corps Reserve Association. Rich has been married to his wife Shannon since 1997 and they have two children – Cassandra (’00) and Nicholas (’01).