Brigadier General (later Major General) Richard O. Christiansen entered the service through the Selective Service System in September 1954, was selected for OCS, and attended the Infantry School, Fort Benning, Georgia from 25 February 1955 through 24 August 1955. Commissioned a Second Lieutenant, Infantry in August 1955, he reported for his first duty assignment in Korea as Platoon Leader and Recon Officer, Company M, 32d Infantry Regiment, 7th Infantry Division. Additional active duty assignments include Training Officer and Executive Officer, Company K, 2d Infantry, 5th Infantry Division at Fort Ord.  He was released from active duty in May 1957. | He was recalled to active duty in October 1961, with the Berlin call-up, as Depot Commander, 889th Petroleum Company (Depot), and was subsequently released in November 1962. | Assignments in a U.S. Army Reserve status have consisted of Company Commander, 889th Petroleum Company (Depot); S-4 and S-3, 364th Quartermaster Group; Assistant G-1, Adjutant General , G-1, 96th USARCOM; Commander, 259th Quartermaster Petroleum Battalion; Commander, 162d Support Group; Chief of Staff, 96th USARCOM. He was appointed Deputy Commander, 96th USARCOM in March 1980, and was promoted to Brigadier General in August, 1980. | Military schools attended include:  Command and General Staff College, U.S. Army War College, Senior Reserve Components Officer Course, U.S. Army War College. | His awards and decorations include: Meritorious Service Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster, Army Commendation Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster. | Brigadier General Christiansen is a graduate of Brigham Young University. He holds memberships in the following associations: Reserve Officers Association; Association of the Unites States Army; Rotary International; Utah, Pacific and American Associations of Collegiate Registrars and Admissions Officers. | At the time of his induction, he was employed by the University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah, as Director of Scheduling. He also served as President, THINK, Incorporated; Vice President, Leadership Dynamics, Incorporated; Secretary, Montane, Incorporated.