A native of Charleston, SC, Richard Waring advises defense and space contractors on managing operational legal and compliance risk arising from overseas military operations. Over the course of his career, he has seen that many contractors remain unprepared for the legal obligations and vulnerabilities associated with how their technology, personnel, and services are employed in complex conflict environments. In today’s conditions—marked by evolving conflict, ambiguous legal and operational scenarios, and heightened public and congressional scrutiny—overlooked obligations can quickly become contract, insurance, reputational, or enforcement exposure.

Richard founded Conflict Orbit to provide defense operations risk counsel focused on incident response readiness and advisory support across land, sea, air, space, and cyber domains. He helps clients reduce exposure, prepare for incidents before they occur, and manage legal risk when scrutiny or investigations arise.

On a personal level, Richard views service to country and others as a central professional obligation. As a former Intelligence Officer with the Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA) and as a current U.S. Army JAG Officer (National Guard), he brings experience with the Law of War (Law of Armed Conflict), national security matters, and high-stakes intelligence and investigations. His extensive trial and investigative background as a former criminal prosecutor and former criminal defense attorney informs a disciplined, methodical approach to incident response and risk mitigation. With additional training in drone law, space law, and export controls (ITAR/EAR), Richard provides clear, steady counsel to clients operating in the most demanding environments.