Dick Tripp, aka Richard W. Tripp, Jr., was born in Washington, NC. He entered the Naval Academy after graduating from high school in Washington, NC in June 1958. He was commissioned an ensign in the US Navy upon graduation in 1962. He served on several ships and was stationed in many assignments all over the US during his career. He was awarded a PhD. in Physics from the Naval Postgraduate School in Monterrey CA in 1971. He retired as a Captain in 1988.
Dick and Marshall met while his ship was paying a visit to Rodman Naval Base, Panama Canal Zone in April 1983, where she was serving at the US Embassy. They were married in October of that year and in January 1984, they moved to Alexandria, VA.