Rich has a lifelong passion for doing astronomy. In 1996 he worked with the people at Torus Precision Optics to develop an automated/robotic telescope system while working for Microsoft. His telescope and the Torus Observatory became the prototype for the company's advanced telescope technology.

In 1997 Rich left Microsoft to form Torus Technologies with James and Tony Mulherin from Torus Precision Optics. As the Vice President of Marketing and Product Development Rich worked with astronomers around the world on various projects and contributed photometry and astrometry data when needed from his observatory in Buckley, WA. He has presented papers on telescope technology at professional astronomy conferences and meetings around the world.

In 2002 Torus Technologies was restructured to Optical Mechanics, Inc. Rich is a partner in OMI but no longer works in the day to day operation of the company. He moved to Markleeville, CA in 2001 and built the Sierra Stars Observatory.

Rich is an avid trout fisherman seeking out the best trophy trout streams and rivers on the east side of the Sierras every chance he gets. The Sierra Stars Observatory is located on the West Fork of the Carson River so he doesn't have to go far to fish.