Colonel Richard P. Stage was commissioned a Second Lieutenant, Infantry, upon graduation from Officer Candidate School, Fort Benning , Georgia, in September, 1971.  He previously served as a Fire Direction Controller (13E), in the California Army National Guard.  His first assignment was as a Heavy Mortar Platoon Leader, followed by assignments as the Company Executive Officer and Commander for Combat Support Company, 1^st Battalion, 184^th Infantry (M) in Turlock, California, through 1977.  He served on Active Duty to complete the Infantry Officer Mortar, Basic and Advance courses.  Subsequently, he served a year on Active Duty as a Recruiting Officer in Stockton, California.  He was then assigned as the State Operations Officer for the California Cadet Corps (JROTC) serving a year on State Active Duty.  He left the National Guard  in 1978 after a final assignment as the Operations Officer (Air) and full-time S-3, for 1st Battalion, 184th Infantry (M) in Modesto, California. 

Colonel Stage moved to San Jose, California as he was hired by IBM Corporation and joined the 91st  Division in July, 1978, as Commander, Co C,  1st  Battalion, 361^st Regiment,  San Jose.  He moved to the Assistant Operations Officer position, 2d Brigade, 91^st Division (TNG), Hamilton Field, in 1981, followed by assignment as the Operations Officer for 3d Battalion, 362d Regiment, San Jose, in 1982. Colonel Stage earned the Chaplain Barry Award as the “Outstanding Company Grade Officer in the 91^st Division” and completed Command and General Staff College during this period.    In 1986, Colonel Stage joined the 351st  Civil Affairs Command, Mountain View, California, and served in the Operations Section and as Secretary General Staff.  He assumed Command of the 445^th Civil Affairs Battalion, Oakland Army Base in 1990, which supported the 25^th Infantry Division.   He served a short tour as an Action Officer,  Joint Staff, the Pentagon,  in 1993 during the Somalia Operation.  He then returned to the 351st Civil Affairs Command and served as the Public Finance Officer and Team Chief, Economics Team.  He was mobilized in 1995 for seven months of active duty in support of operations in Haitti, serving as Chief, Current Operations Cell, United States Army Civil Affaris and Psychological Operations Command, Fort Bragg, North Carolina.  He completed the United States Army War College during this period.  Upon return to Reserve status,  he became Chief, Government Team and later Assistant Chief of Staff, Personnel, for the 351st CA Command.  He was mobilized again in 1997 and served as Deputy Commander, Combined Joint Civil Military Task Force, Bosnia-Herzegovina.  Colonel Stage returned to the 351st Civil Affairs Command in January, 1998, to become Chief of Staff.  He subsequently was selected to command Simulations Exercise Group 3, 1^st Bde, 91^st Div (TS) , Parks Reserve Forces Training Area, Dublin, CA, in October 1998.  He returned as Chief of Staff, 351^st CACOM in November, 2000. He retired from the Army Reserve on 1 October 2001.

Colonel Stage’s awards include:  The Legion of Merit,  Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Meritorious Service Medal with 3 Oak Leaf Clusters, Army Commendation Medal with Silver Oak Leaf Cluster, Joint Meritorious Unit Award and numerous service medals. He earned the Recruiters “Gold Badge”  while serving with the National Guard.  He is a Distinguished Member of the Civil Affairs Corps Regiment and ‘Temple’ Award recipient.  He was inducted into the “OCS” Hall of Fame, FT Benning, GA in 1998.

 Colonel Stage has been married to the former Betty Cordes for over 48 years and has a daughter and a son, and, two grandchildren.  He retired from IBM at the end of 2007 having served over 30 years with the last three years on international assignment in Asia. He is a graduate of California State University – Stanislaus with a BA in Business Administration – Marketing and the Army War College. He served as the California – Bay Area Chair and Director for Military Outreach with ESGR for ten years, was a National Volunteer of the Year twice and is currently the State Vice-Chai.  He has served as a chapter president for AUSA and ROA. He previously served on the AUSA National Advisory Board of Directors. He was appointed as a United States Army Reserve Ambassador for California in 2016.  He has served on the board for the Civil Affairs Association and was a national vice-president for 13 terms.  He also belongs to American Legion, VFW, MOAA, ROA, NGCA, NGAUS and a variety of military alumni associations.