Growing up across several villages in American Samoa – including Aluau, Fogagogo, Lions Park, and eventually Ili’ili, where his family settled, Richard Gabriel never imagined he would one day represent the United States as a diplomat. A career in foreign affairs wasn’t something people in his community discussed, much less pursued. When he reflects on his childhood, he describes it as ordinary with mediocre grades and no academic honors that set him apart in school. Yet against all odds, Richard has accomplished something no one from the territory ever has. He is the first Samoan from American Samoa to become a Foreign Service Officer in the U.S. Department of State.
The youngest of six children, Richard was raised by his father, Arona, who was born in American Samoa, and his mother, Suli, a naturalized U.S. citizen originally from the Independent State of Samoa. While his parents provided a strong foundation, Richard credits his sister Nina with shaping his early understanding of fa’aSāmoa, particularly the values of humility, service, and respect. Her steady guidance and example helped instill in him compassion and sense of purpose that would guide him throughout his life.
Richard’s path to public service began in 2004, when he made the life-changing decision to enlist in the U.S. Army. He would go on to deploy to Iraq in support of the Global War on Terror, rising to the rank of non-commissioned officer before being honorably discharged. The military, didn’t just shape him, it built the foundation of his professional life where he learned to lead with accountability, mentor with purpose, and think critically under pressure.
After his military service, Richard used his GI Bill to pursue higher education, something he never expected to do. “I took one class as an experiment,” he said. “I started, so I had to finish.” He repeated this mantra at every stage. One associate’s class, one bachelor’s class, one graduate class, and ultimately, graduating cum laude with an MBA from American University. His academic accomplishments reflect not only intellectual ability, but persistence and proof that one’s origins in a small island territory are no barrier to global ambitions.
While completing his MBA, Richard joined the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) as a Personnel Recovery Advisor, where he played a key role in designing and developing the agency’s Personnel Recovery Program. He led the development of training curricula and was instrumental in piloting the program at over 30 U.S. embassies and missions across South America, Africa, Europe, and Asia.
He later transitioned to the intelligence community, becoming a direct hire at the National Security Agency (NSA) and completing both the NSA’s Counterintelligence Academy and Agent training at the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA). In these roles, Richard served in one of the most demanding and discreet arenas of public service, national security and intelligence, where Pacific Islander representation remains rare.
In 2021, Richard Gabriel officially joined the U.S. Department of State as a sworn Foreign Service Officer, beginning his career within the Diplomatic Security Service (DSS) – the federal law enforcement arm of the Department. He completed the Criminal Investigator Training Program at the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center (FLETC) in Glynco, Georgia, followed by DSS’s rigorous advanced training in Virginia, which together comprise the longest federal law enforcement academy in the U.S. government.
Richard’s first assignment was with the Miami Field Office, where he conducted complex criminal investigations related to visa and passport fraud, human trafficking, and other transnational crimes. While serving on a joint task force, he helped lead an investigation that resulted in the investigation of a human trafficker and the recovery of hundreds of thousands of dollars in criminal proceeds. His work extended internationally as well, such as the FIFA Women’s World Cup where he represented the United States abroad as a federal law enforcement liaison in Australia and New Zealand, helping to coordinate high-level security and interagency cooperation.
Among his most sensitive responsibilities, Richard served as a protective agent for the U.S. Secretary of State, providing close protection both domestically and during high-stakes diplomatic engagements overseas. This assignment requires a high degree of precision, discretion, and situational awareness, reflecting the level of trust placed in him as a federal law enforcement professional. It brought him from Papua New Guinea to Manila, from Germany to Italy, and beyond, as the Secretary was meeting with heads of state from across the world.
Today, Richard is studying Mandarin Chinese at the Foreign Service Institute in preparation for his next overseas assignment as Assistant Regional Security Officer at the U.S. Consulate in Shanghai.
“Being the first anything, was never my motivation,” he has said to those close to him. “But I’m proud to carry my culture with me wherever I go.”
Richard resides in Washington, D.C. with his wife Alexandra and daughter, Angel, but his heart remains closely tied to his home in American Samoa.
Richard’s story is more than a personal success. It is a significant milestone for American Samoa and a powerful example for young Samoans who may not see themselves reflected in federal careers, much less in global diplomacy or the intelligence community. His achievements earned through service, sacrifice, and excellence are a reminder that Samoan voices belong at every level of government and every table where decisions are made.
For the youth of American Samoa, his journey is a message, with discipline, competence, and confidence in one’s self, anything is possible.
