U.S. Army Veteran
Richard Cosner is a United States Army veteran who deployed twice to Iraq with the 2nd Infantry Division. After returning from combat, he transitioned into a role that would define the next chapter of his service: cadre member at the Mountaineer ChalleNGe Academy at Camp Dawson in Kingwood, West Virginia.
The Mountaineer ChalleNGe Academy is a National Guard quasi-military education program for at-risk youth ages 16 to 18. Since 1993, the program has graduated over 5,900 cadets from its campus in Preston County, giving young people who had fallen behind in the traditional education system the structure, discipline, and support to earn their high school diplomas and redirect their lives. As a cadre member, Richard led from the front. He became a teacher, a role model, and a vital part of the Academy’s mission to shape young lives through discipline and mentorship.
Richard currently serves in security operations at Camp Dawson, continuing his commitment to the installation and the community it serves.
As Treasurer of The Eight Fifty Committee, Richard ensures the organization’s financial integrity and accountability. His combat experience, his years of mentoring young people through the ChalleNGe Academy, and his ongoing presence at Camp Dawson in Preston County connect the organization directly to one of the most significant military and community institutions in North Central West Virginia.
