After graduation from the Coast Guard Academy in 1924, Richmond served in a number of ships involved in enforcing U.S. anti-smuggling laws during Prohibition. He had other shipboard service as a junior officer and in the mid-1930s passed a three-year course toward a law degree from George Washington University. On the eve of World War II, he assisted in writing the laws which established the Coast Guard Reserve. In 1941, he was involved in fitting out the Coast Guard training vessel American Sailor. During the war, he commanded the cutter USCGC Haida (WPG-45), was involved in merchant marine inspections, and then set up a Coast Guard hearing unit in London to aid in enforcement of laws and regulations. After the war, he reported to Coast Guard headquarters in Washington and for the next 16 years was involved in presenting the service's budget to Congress. During that time he had a four-year term as Assistant Commandant and two four-year terms as Commandant prior to his retirement in 1962.