Richard Winkler has represented Charles County on the SMECO Board of Directors since 2006. During that time, he has elected Chairman of the Board for five years, from August 2013 until September 2018. His is currently the chair of the Board Risk Oversight Committee and serves on the Board of Directors for ACES Power Marketing. He also served on the Policy, Audit and Budget Committee and chaired the Personnel and Benefits Committee.
Prior to becoming a SMECO Board member, he served as the Director of Fiscal and Administrative Services for the Charles County government, retiring after 27 years of service.
Winkler was appointed to the Board of Directors of the University of Maryland Charles Regional Medical Center for nine years, serving as vice chair, secretary/treasurer, Executive Committee member, and chairman of the Finance Committee.
He is the current chair of the McDonough Charity School Scholarship Foundation; past president of the Charles County Board of Fire and Rescue Commissioners, and past president of the Charles County Rotary Club. He is a current member of the Knights of Columbus and American Legion Post 82.
Winkler enlisted in the U.S. Air Force in 1964 and was recalled to active duty in 1969 and 1970. He graduated from Archbishop Neale High School and holds degrees in finance and administration from the College of Southern Maryland and the University of Maryland University College.
Since joining the SMECO Board, he has earned both his Credentialed Cooperative Director and the Board Leadership Series-Gold certificates from the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association.