As Union Pacific’s executive vice president, chief legal officer and corporate secretary Craig Richardson prepares to retire at the end of March, he reflects on a career dedicated to service – both to his country and to the railroad’s vision of Building America.
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“My career reflects an intense devotion to the love of my country and building America,” said Richardson. “There’s an aspect of pride and professional meaning that comes from the past, and there’s a part that comes from the present.”
His journey has been anything but ordinary. Before joining Union Pacific, Richardson spent decades working in government, law and corporate leadership. His early career included roles in the U.S. Department of State, the Pentagon and the U.S. Embassy in Tokyo. He also served in the White House during the Reagan administration under the National Security Advisor. As an intelligence officer, he was deployed to the Cambodian border and the Philippines to oversee critical operations.
In 1988, Richardson was commissioned in the U.S. Navy Reserves, where he served for 21 years, including active-duty mobilization after Sept. 11, 2001. During this time, he also pursued his long-held ambition of becoming a lawyer, attending Stanford Law School. His legal career took him from the West Coast to Denver, where he and his family settled in 1993. There, he built a distinguished career in the energy sector, serving as vice president and general counsel for El Paso Corporation’s Pipeline Group.
After serving as outside counsel for Union Pacific, Richardson officially joined the railroad in 2016 as associate general counsel, moving to a vice president position and, in December 2020, stepped into the chief legal officer role. Throughout his tenure, he led the company’s legal team through unprecedented regulatory challenges and industry scrutiny, delivering significant victories for Union Pacific.
For Richardson, working for the railroad has also carried deep historical significance.
“I’m a history buff, and I’ve always been fascinated by the American presidency. Who else can say they work for a company founded by Abraham Lincoln?” he said. “Lincoln stood for correcting one of the greatest moral failings in our history, and he gave his life for it. The fact that his signature put this railroad into existence is incredibly meaningful.”
Among the moments he’s most proud of, Richardson reflects on regulatory cases with long-lasting impacts for the broader rail industry. He speaks highly of his team, who has successfully defended Union Pacific in historic legal victories, including those related to passenger rail and labor relations.
“This is all about the incredible team I have – lawyers, paralegals, risk management professionals and outside counsel – who have left a mark on me more than perhaps any time in my career,” Richardson said. “The first word that comes to mind is excellence. Union Pacific has attracted and retained some truly remarkable legal and risk management professionals.”
Richardson is also proud of Union Pacific’s strong ties to the military, with nearly 20% of its workforce made up of veterans.
“I don’t think that’s a coincidence,” he said. “There’s a shared sentiment between a military career and a career at Union Pacific – both are deeply connected to service, discipline and something greater than oneself.”
As he enters retirement, Richardson looks forward to spending more time with his family, especially his first grandchild and his labrador, in the Rockies. He also plans to travel – with a return trip to Japan on the horizon – and continue his leadership roles on corporate boards and community organizations.
And, of course, he’ll be keeping an eye on Union Pacific.
“I will always have Union Pacific in my heart, even if I’m not in the office,” Richardson said. “This is a company built on integrity. We are an honorable organization, and when we give our word, we keep it. That’s a legacy I’m proud to have been a part of.”
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