Curriculum Vitae
 | |  |
Richard Lee Orr
5215 Durham Road - East
Columbia, Maryland 21044
(410) 730-7290
www.marylandinsects.com
Dragonfly and Damselfly Field Research Contracts: 1985-Present
Considered by many entomologists and conservation biologists as the leading authority on dragonflies and damselflies in the Mid-
Atlantic Region. Maintain the historical and current species records for the State of Maryland and the District of Columbia.
Conducted numerous ecological, taxonomic, and distributional research projects on dragonflies and other arthropods for the U.S. Fish
and Wildlife Service, National Park Service, The Nature Conservancy and other state and local organizations. Over 70 publications and
presentations on dragonflies and damselflies. Have provided annual courses on dragonfly and damselfly identification and natural
history since 1990.
Other Professional Biological Positions held:
ASSISTANT DIRECTOR FOR INTERNATIONAL POLICY AND PREVENTION 2003-Present
INTERNATIONAL CONSERVATION BIOLOGIST
NATIONAL INVASIVE SPECIES COUNCIL
Washington D.C.
Primary responsibility is for coordinating the prevention and international activities of the Council members and their agencies and for
exploring opportunities to enhance and increase existing programs to incorporate invasive species concerns. The National Invasive
Species Council includes the Secretaries of the Interior, Agriculture, Commerce, State, Defense, Homeland Security, Treasury,
Transportation, Health and Human Services, as well as the Administrators of the Environmental Protection Agency, NASA, and the U.S.
Agency for International Development. The Council co-chairs are the Secretaries of the Interior, Agriculture, and Commerce.
APHIS INVASIVE SPECIES COORDINATOR 2001-2003
USDA – APHIS – PPD – Risk Analysis Systems
Riverdale, Maryland
Coordinate APHIS’ Wildlife Services, Veterinary Services, Plant Protection and Quarantine, International Services and Policy and
Program Development (PPD) activities with the National Invasive Species Council, the Aquatic Nuisance Species Task Force and other
interagency, interdepartmental and international activities associated with invasive species.
RISK ASSESSMENT AND INVASIVE SPECIES SPECIALIST 1999-2001
On Detail from USDA to the Department of Interior
National Invasive Species Council Staff
Washington, D.C.
Provided the newly formed National Invasive Species Council (Executive Order 13112) staff with guidance on the development and
writing of the Management Plan chapters on prevention and international cooperation. Also provided expertise on risk assessment and
invertebrate invasive species biology to both the National Invasive Species Council and to the Aquatic Nuisance Species Task Force
(National Invasive Species Act).
SENIOR ENTOMOLOGIST 1990-1999
USDA – APHIS – PPD – Risk Analysis Systems
Hyattsville and Riverdale, Maryland
Developed and tested risk processes and methodologies for use in evaluating invasive species. Responsible for numerous risk
assessments and risk management projects covering a wide variety of different species including insects, mites, plant and animal
pathogens, plants, vertebrate animals, and genetically modified organisms and their by-products. Was also involved in a number of
interagency, interdepartmental and international projects and standard development dealing with risk analysis and invasive species.
HOUSTON AREA IDENTIFIER 1982-1990
USDA – APHIS – Plant Protection & Quarantine
Houston Intercontinential Airport
Houston, Texas
Provided the federal agencies with identifications of foreign and domestic insects, mites, land mollusks, nematodes, plants, plant
seeds, and plant diseases so that regulatory decisions on potential invasive species could be made. Also responsible for operation of
the Houston Plant Inspection Station including its day-to-day operations, inventories, and supervision of personnel.
PLANT PROTECTION AND QUARANTINE OFFICER 1980-1982
USDA – APHIS - Plant Protection & Quarantine
Miami, Florida and Houston, Texas
Responsible for inspection and regulatory enforcement of foreign arrivals (commodities, people, and their conveyances) to reduce the
risk of an introduction of non-native plant and animal pests and pathogens. This included working at two major maritime ports (Port of
Houston and the Port of Miami), two major airports (Houston Intercontinental Airport and Miami International Airport) and the Miami Plant
Inspection Station.
INSTRUCTOR 1979-1980
Southern Oregon University
Ashland, Oregon
Organized, prepared and administrated laboratory exercises for General Biology. In addition, provided lectures in entomology and
helped maintain the University’s insect collection.
RESEARCH OFFICER 1977-1979
Forest Products Research Institute
University of Science and Technology
Kumasi, Ghana West Africa
Working under the auspices of a joint Smithsonian/Peace Corps program, conducted research into two genera of psyllids (forest insect
pests) that were impacting forestry production throughout West Africa. At the conclusion of the psyllid project the taxonomy, natural
history and a control program were developed so that two major timber trees could be grown on a commercial basis.
RESEARCH ENTOMOLOGIST 1976-1977
Jackson County Vector Control District
White City, Oregon
Initiated and managed a research laboratory to determine lethal insecticide concentrations needed to control local populations of
resistant mosquitoes while minimizing the impact on non-target organisms.
Education:
1968-1973 Southern Oregon University B.S. Major Biology Minor Chemistry
1973-1976 Brigham Young University M.S. Major Entomology Minor Biochemistry
M.S. Thesis: The Comparative Toxicity of Developmental Inhibitors and Organophosphates on Mosquitoes
1976 – Present Extensive additional biological and risk analysis courses from John Hopkins
University, University of Virginia, Montana State University, Systematic
Entomology Laboratory, Ohio State University, University of Maryland, USDA
Graduate School, USGS Bee Lab, and University of Science and Technology in Kumasi, Ghana.
Honors and Awards: Honors and awards by agency, number and year are:
National Invasive Species Council 7 (2001 to 2008)
National Plant Board 1 (2006)
USDA, APHIS Program and Policy Development 8 (1990 to 2002)
USDA, APHIS Plant Protection and Quarantine 11 (1985 to 2000)
USDA, APHIS Professional Development Center 1 (1981)
USDA, Secretary of Agriculture 2 (2000, 1997)
USDA, Office of Risk and Cost Benefit Analysis 2 (1998, 1996)
USDA, Forest Service 1 (1991)
Department of Justice, Environment and Natural Resources Division 1 (1999)
Secretaria De Agricultura (Mexico) 1 (1993)
Scholarships Brigham Young University (1973-1976)
Assistantships Brigham Young University (1973-1976) &
Southern Oregon University (1971-1976)
Publications, Papers, Risk Assessments and Presentations:
A complete detailed list of my 175+ publications, papers, risk assessments and presentations is available upon request. Numbers
associated with the discipline of invasive species risk analysis and in the field of entomology are:
Risk Analysis (Invasive Species) 82
Entomology 83
Current Membership in Societies and Organizations:
Entomological Society of Washington Maryland Entomology Society
Dragonfly Society of the Americas Societas Internationalis Odonatologica
Audubon Naturalist Society The Nature Conservancy
Maryland Ornithological Society Howard Astronomical League
Current member of Science Advisory Committees:
NASA’s Planetary Protection Advisory Subcommittee 2001-Present
Central Maryland and Washington D.C. Audubon
Science Advisory Committee 1999-Present
Cove Point Science Advisory Committee 1998-Present