As Chief Administrative Officer (CAO) at WestEd, Richard Whitmore is responsible for the administrative management and daily operations of the agency.

Whitmore plays key roles on WestEd's Executive Team, including helping to develop and implement a strategic agency growth plan. He also oversees the Human Resources and Information Services Departments. He helps to set goals, oversee budgets, and manage resources.

As WestEd's Chief Financial Officer from 2003-2006, Whitmore significantly improved the agency's financial systems and played an important role in helping to grow WestEd.

Prior to rejoining WestEd in 2011, Whitmore served as the Superintendent for the Los Gatos (CA) Union School District. Whitmore created a district strategic plan and provided critical financial leadership. He also implemented a new K-5 math curriculum, led the development of a bond measure for district facilities that was successful at the ballot, and instituted assessments that regularly measure students' knowledge rather than depending solely on annual state tests.

Whitmore previously served as the Interim Superintendent for the Davis Joint Unified School District. He was the Chief Policy Advisor to California State Superintendent of Public Instruction Delaine Eastin, and also served during her two terms as the Chief Deputy Superintendent of the California Department of Education (CDE) and as the Deputy Superintendent for Finance, Technology and Planning. In his policy role, he oversaw the development of California's first consolidated plan to implement the federal No Child Left Behind Act, and also developed state policies to identify and intervene in low-performing schools.

As Chief Deputy Superintendent, Whitmore represented the Department in the development of the state's first accountability system, helped create state budgets for K-12 education, and was responsible for the day-to-day management of CDE.

In his early CDE work, Whitmore formulated a strategic plan that led to the development of CDE's Challenge Standards, which became the basis of the later State Content Standards now used throughout California. As well, he developed a statewide technology plan, and served as the State Administrator for the Compton Unified School District during the state's takeover.

Whitmore has conducted consulting work with large urban districts; Aspire Public Schools, a charter management organization; and private sector work with Teacher Universe as its Chief Financial Officer. In addition, he was Chief Financial Officer for University High School in San Francisco, and Director of the Business and Finance Department of Stanford University.

He has served on the boards of the California State Teachers Retirement System, a $100 billion public pension fund; the Saklan Valley School in Moraga, CA; and serves as an elected Governing Board member of the Acalanes Union High School District based in Lafayette, CA. He is also active in other local community affairs, including serving as the President and Fundraising Chair of the Lafayette Arts and Science Foundation.

A native of Maine, Whitmore was a 1976 state Presidential Scholar. He is a Phi Beta Kappa graduate of Stanford University and received an MBA from Harvard University.