Office of Professional & Continuing Education

Auburn University's Office of Professional & Continuing Education provides non-credit education business, leadership, and management programs designed to strengthen your organization. Strong leadership and management skills are essential to success in all organizations and our programs are designed to build and sharpen these skills through a variety of offerings.

November 20, 2025

Colonel Chris Richie, USMC (Retired)

From Reflection to Legacy: Building Authentic Leadership with Lasting Impact

This immersive leadership workshop guides participants through a transformative journey of self-discovery, authenticity, and impact. Beginning with deep reflection on passion and purpose, participants will explore how these internal drivers excite, direct, enlighten, and enable their leadership.  The workshop continues with a focus on leading with authenticity—anchored in personal values, shaped by character, and refined through life’s crucibles. These elements form the foundation of a leadership style that is genuine, unique and resilient.  The final phase of the workshop explores leading with a higher purpose. Participants will examine how culture defines both personal and organizational identity, and how significance—living and leading for others—unleashes true influence and legacy. The experience culminates with the Invisible Medal keynote, inspiring participants to lead not for recognition, but for meaningful impact in the lives of others.

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Speaker Bio

After graduating from Auburn University in 1992, Chris embarked on a distinguished 30-year career in the United States Marine Corps, commanding at every rank he held. His service included multiple deployments in support of combat and humanitarian operations, notably Operations Allied Force, Enduring Freedom, Iraqi Freedom, and as the Special Purpose MAGTF Commander for Operation Continuing Promise in 2010.

Throughout his career, Chris served in 20 countries and 10 U.S. states, leading thousands of personnel in both peacetime and war. From 2012 to 2014, Chris served as a diplomatic member of the U.S. Embassy Country Team and military liaison in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, where he oversaw a $19 billion foreign military sales program. Prior to retirement, he served as Chairman of the Executive Steering Committee for Marine Corps Aviation Command and Control (AC2), a global organization comprising over 10,000 personnel, while simultaneously commanding the largest AC2 unit in the Marine Corps.

His personal decorations include the Defense Superior Service Medal, the Legion of Merit, and AC2 Officer of the Year. Units under his command have received the Navy Unit Commendation, Meritorious Unit Commendation, and Aviation C2 Unit of the Year.

Currently, Chris serves as Director of Human Resource Development at Auburn University and teaches leadership in the Harbert College of Business. His team built and implemented a leadership development program for all university employees while also creating a new performance development process centered on core values. He is a member of the Board of Directors for the Auburn University Credit Union and the NROTC Alumni Association. He is also the Vice President for the East Alabama Chapter of the Military Officers Association of America.

An active mentor and keynote speaker, Chris is also a three-time award-winning military author and two-time Amazon best-seller. His latest book, The Invisible Medal: Leading with a Higher Purpose, was published in April 2024.