10/18/2025
The Guest Speaker for the 8th annual Veterans Rally Point is Richard Cope.
Mr. Cope started as a fighter pilot flying A-4 Skyhawks and then moved into research and development. As the head of research and development for the United States Marine Corps' surface air weapons, he worked with Charlie Wilson, known from the Charlie Wilson's War movie, and helped develop the Stinger missile while teaching the Afghans how to shoot down the Russians. He later became head of special operations for General Schwarzkopf during the first Gulf War. Afterward, he was assigned to DARPA as the only Marine Corps officer and the only one without a PhD. Mr. Cope secured over $500 million from Congress for advanced research and development in vehicles, armor, weapon systems, hypersonic weapons, lasers, directed energy, and other classified fields.
Richard Cope is a board member, CEO of five different technology companies, a USMC combat commander, head of special operations for Gen. Schwarzkopf during the Gulf War, a venture capitalist, and a nonprofit fundraiser. He founded two companies in different industries, both of which appeared on the Inc. 500 list and were recognized as the fastest-growing Veteran-owned companies in America. He has raised funds from the US, Canada, Singapore, Hong Kong, Shanghai, Australia, and Europe. He has over 40 issued patents in the US and internationally. He has testified before Congress, briefed presidents and world leaders, and been featured on television, radio, and in multiple newspapers, magazines, and books.