LCDR Richard R. Pace, USNR (Ret.) '63
Los Angeles Chapter Trustee
Rich Pace brings 35 years of corporate legal experience to the board of trustees. A life member of the Association and a current member of the Robert Means Thompson Society, Rich has been active with the Los Angeles Chapter since 1995, and served as its president from 2004 until 2008. He is also a Blue and Gold officer for Area 424, and has sent several candidates to USNA.
After leaving active duty, Rich attended the University of Illinois College of Law, graduating in 1970. He began his legal career with the Chicago firm of Schiff Hardin & Waite, where he specialized in labor and employment law and related litigation. In 1976, he returned to California, where he rose to the position of Senior Partner and Department Head with the Los Angeles office of Carlsmith Wichman Case Mukai & Ichiki, Hawaii's largest law firm.
During 30 years as a member of the California Bar, Rich served as labor counsel to such international firms as Canadian Pacific Airlines, Seiko watches, Epson Computers and Pan Bimbo of Mexico City. He also served as chief labor negotiator for several large U.S. firms, including TRW’s Electronics Division, Missions foods, and Laura Scudders, Inc. Rich later was lead defense counsel in numerous wrongful termination actions, including the first wrongful termination case tried in the State of Hawaii.
Rich is co-author of the California Bar Association book "Advising California Employers,” and served as a visiting lecturer on employment law at USC and UCLA. He is currently an adjunct professor with the University of Redlands, where he lectures on business law and ethics in its MBA program. Rich and his wife of 28 years, the former May Yee of New York City, live in Long Beach, California.