Principal Bio

Dr. Richard A. Vargus, recently retired as the Department of Defense Canine Program Manager, and is a retired Lieutenant Colonel in the United States Army. He has a distinguished and extensive history of service to the United States of America, which spans over 45 years. Colonel Vargus was recalled to active duty in 2005 serving in Iraq, Afghanistan and most notably as the Chief of Law Enforcement for US Central Command. 

Dr. Vargus established an interoperable canine program providing military (MWD) and contract working dogs to twenty-six countries in the Middle East and Central Asia. He served as the Department of the Army Military Police Working Dog Program Manager at the Office of Provost Marshal General revising canine policy, projecting strategic canine force structure and collaborating the introduction of the Army off leash training program. 

Dr. Vargus completed his service as the Canine Program Manager, Department of Defense, at the Pentagon in March 2020. During his tenure, he was responsible for all United States MWD teams, worldwide. Renown in both the international and domestic canine communities, Dr. Vargus's achievements in establishing and maintaining canine programs of record, national and international policy development, as well as developing effective coalitions -- U.S. interoperability initiatives -- are second to none in his field.

"We are leaders in the global canine communuity.  We have been interoperable, supporting both domestic and international law enforcement.  Over the years, our outreach has developed strategic partnerships with NATO, the European Union, the "5 Eye Pacific Community" (New Zealand, Australia, Canada, United Kingdom and the US) and Caribbean partners. StrategicK9ConsultantsLLC sits firmly at the forefront of modern canine policy development."