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Town Administrator
Richard A. Rainer Jr. hails from Western New York. He graduated from the State University of New York at Buffalo with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Business Management, and earned a Master of Science degree in Management Information Systems from The George Washington University and a Master of Strategic Studies degree from the U.S. Army War College, Carlisle Barracks. He was commissioned upon graduation from Officer Candidate School in 1985 and retired from the US Navy in 2015.
Prior to his appointment as Town Administrator for Portsmouth, RI, Rich served as Branch Head for Policy and Commanding Officer for the US Naval Element at NATO Joint Forces Command, Brunssum, Netherlands.
At sea, CAPT Rainer has served in command as Commodore, Maritime Pre-Positioning Squadron THREE from May 2012 to July 2013 and led 11 ships through 7 operations across 3 continents. He also served as Commanding Officer of the Aegis Cruiser USS THOMAS S. GATES (CG 51) from February 2002 to October 2004. While in command, CAPT Rainer deployed with the RONALD REAGAN Strike Group as Air Defense Commander.
Previous at sea assignments included duty in numerous Cruisers, Destroyer Squadrons and Carrier Strike Groups. During his sea tours he participated in eight overseas deployments.
Ashore, Rich served as the Director of the US Naval Staff College at the US Naval War College in Newport, Rhode Island and as Chief of Navy Programs in the Office of Defense Cooperation at the US Embassy, Copenhagen, Denmark. He also served at the United States Naval Academy as an instructor of Naval Science and as Officer-in-Charge of various Yard Patrol Craft, a Navy 40’ yawl, and a Navy 44’ sloop.
Rich Rainer is married to the former Bente Nygaard of Vinderup, Denmark. He has two daughters, Ashley and Emma, and a son, Jonathan.
Richard A. Rainer Jr. is the fourth Town Administrator of Portsmouth. Prior to Mr. Rainer, John C. Klimm was the Town Administrator from 2012 to 2015. Before Mr. Klimm, Robert G. Driscoll served as Town Administrator of Portsmouth from 1990 to 2011. John O. Thayer served as Portsmouth's first town administrator from 1973 to 1990.
The Town Administrator is appointed by the Town Council and is the head of the administrative branch of town government (see generally Article III of the Home Rule Charter of the Town of Portsmouth).
View all Annual Reports in the Archive Center.
Prior to his appointment as Town Administrator for Portsmouth, RI, Rich served as Branch Head for Policy and Commanding Officer for the US Naval Element at NATO Joint Forces Command, Brunssum, Netherlands.
At sea, CAPT Rainer has served in command as Commodore, Maritime Pre-Positioning Squadron THREE from May 2012 to July 2013 and led 11 ships through 7 operations across 3 continents. He also served as Commanding Officer of the Aegis Cruiser USS THOMAS S. GATES (CG 51) from February 2002 to October 2004. While in command, CAPT Rainer deployed with the RONALD REAGAN Strike Group as Air Defense Commander.
Previous at sea assignments included duty in numerous Cruisers, Destroyer Squadrons and Carrier Strike Groups. During his sea tours he participated in eight overseas deployments.
Ashore, Rich served as the Director of the US Naval Staff College at the US Naval War College in Newport, Rhode Island and as Chief of Navy Programs in the Office of Defense Cooperation at the US Embassy, Copenhagen, Denmark. He also served at the United States Naval Academy as an instructor of Naval Science and as Officer-in-Charge of various Yard Patrol Craft, a Navy 40’ yawl, and a Navy 44’ sloop.
Rich Rainer is married to the former Bente Nygaard of Vinderup, Denmark. He has two daughters, Ashley and Emma, and a son, Jonathan.
Richard A. Rainer Jr. is the fourth Town Administrator of Portsmouth. Prior to Mr. Rainer, John C. Klimm was the Town Administrator from 2012 to 2015. Before Mr. Klimm, Robert G. Driscoll served as Town Administrator of Portsmouth from 1990 to 2011. John O. Thayer served as Portsmouth's first town administrator from 1973 to 1990.
The Town Administrator is appointed by the Town Council and is the head of the administrative branch of town government (see generally Article III of the Home Rule Charter of the Town of Portsmouth).
Annual Report
According to the Portsmouth Home Rule Charter, Section 304.j., "The Town Administrator shall publish an annual report that presents all aspects of Portsmouth town and school activities. The document should include, but not be limited to: town and department budgets, performance, activities and progress related to: schools, police, fire and public works, volunteerism, committees and boards; employee headcount by department and employee awards and citations. The report is intended to communicate to the citizens of Portsmouth the “state of the town.”View all Annual Reports in the Archive Center.