Term
April 1, 2021 to March 31, 2025
Previous Term(s)
April 1, 2017 to March 31, 2021
Position
Council Member
Term(s)
April 1, 2009, to March 31, 2013; April 1, 2013, to March 31, 2017
Dick Rynearson has lived in Fort Walton Beach since 1981. A native of Ohio, he graduated from Kent State University in 1967 with a Bachelor's Degree in Aerospace Technology.
Dick served 11 years in the United States Air Force as a pilot and missile test engineer. He served a tour in Vietnam as a C-7A aircraft commander/instructor pilot, and two tours on Guam as a B-52G aircraft commander flying missions over Southeast Asia. His combat service resulted in being awarded the Air Medal with seven oak leaf clusters, the Distinguished Flying Cross, and the Silver Star.
In 1978 Dick joined Hughes Aircraft Company/Raytheon as a missile systems test engineer. He also worked in new business development before being promoted to site manager of the company's Eglin AFB-based air-to-air missile test team.
Dick earned a Master's Degree of Science in Management from Troy University in 1995. He retired from Raytheon in 2005 but was called out of retirement in 2019 and named Sr. Program Manager with KBR.
Dick and his wife Janey have 4 children, 13 grandchildren, and 2 great-grandchildren and are members of the Trinity Methodist Church.
Board and Committee Appointments
- Okaloosa County Transportation Cooperative
- Okaloosa-Walton Transportation Planning Organization
- Emerald Coast Regional Council
- Northwest Florida League of Cities Board of Directors
- Metropolitan Planning Organization Advisory Council