Richard D. Brown became acting director of the Department of Planning and Budget on June 1, 2001, and was appointed director of the agency by Governor Mark Warner effective January 12, 2002. He is a native of Arlington County, Virginia. He received a B.A. Degree in Economics from the College of William and Mary and a Masters of Commerce Degree from the University of Richmond.
Ric entered state government service in 1971 as an economist with the Division of State Planning and Community Affairs. While employed by this agency, he served as staff to numerous legislative and executive study commissions including: the Revenue Resources and Economic Study Commission, the National and Dulles Airports Acquisition Study Commission, and Governor Holton's Task Force on Financing the Standards of Quality in Public Education.
In 1976, Ric moved to the newly created Department of Planning and Budget (DPB). Initially, he was employed as a policy analyst dealing with educational matters. He later transferred to the Research Section where he focused his attention on special studies relating to state/local issues and taxation.
Ric was promoted in 1986 to budget manager for DPB's Commerce and Resources Section. In this capacity, he coordinated the development of the Governor's budget recommendations to the General Assembly for the Economic Development and Natural Resources' agencies.
In 1987, Ric took over the managerial duties of DPB's Budget Operations Section. In 1990 he was promoted to the position of Deputy Director for Budgeting, where he was responsible for both external (other agency) and internal (within DPB) budget development and execution procedures as well as for the development and publication of the Governor's Budget Bill and Budget Document.
Ric is a three-time past President of the Board of Directors of the Richmond Area Association for Retarded Citizens and currently serves on the Executive Committee of the Board. He is married and has one son. His interests include antiques and fishing.
In August 2008, Governor Kaine appointed Ric Brown as his Secretary of Finance.
Past directors of DPB and its predecessor
agencies