Jacob Marabelli | Federal BD Manager GomSpace

I can't recommend Rick and his GovClose program enough. I joined in 2024 with no experience in government contracting and left with a certificate, a letter of recommendation, a great-paying job as an account executive, and a network of amazing professionals I could count on.

Rick is fully committed to his students. He genuinely cares about your success and always makes time to support you when you need it. The community he's built is incredible. What sets Rick apart is how he goes beyond just teaching how to sell to the government. He shows you how to build a real business modeled after his own, using everything you’ve learned, and gives you a behind-the-scenes look at how his business operates.

The weekly coaching calls are worth the price of admission alone. You get direct access to Rick and his associates, and their insights are priceless. Joining GovClose and working with Rick was one of the best decisions I’ve ever made.

Koren Wise, Owner of Wise Technical Innovations

Ricky has the perspective and experience that small businesses need to navigate the DoD contracting world. The tools that he brings to the table, the guests he selects, and the truths every company needs to understand, make his podcast a "must listen to". His methodology can and will lead to sales if you pay attention and put into practice what he is preaching! 

Alan Andres | USAF Reservist | Consultant | GovClose Certified

If you are active or former military and looking for an option to pursue after separation the Gov Close certification program is legit!

It is a comprehensive program that will teach you everything from the basics of Federal Contracting to advanced techniques for how to find and be competitive for federal contracts.

Arpit Malaviya, CEO, PRoDIGIQ

Richard and his team have the highest level of federal contracting expertise! They speak the same language as government contracting officers, program managers and requirements officers which is critical to communicating our solutions to decision makers. Richard's in-depth knowledge of funding and various contracting mechanisms provides the ability to help shape acquisitions agreements from both the government & company sides of a deal and we highly recommend his services! 

Elinor Chang - Chief of Staff, UXReactor, Inc.

Ricky was great to work with and was very knowdledgeable in this space! We enjoyed working with Ricky and appreciated his diligence and his attitude. Recommend to other companies looking for similar services.

David Ortiz | 8(a) Consultant | GovClose Certified

Since completing the program, I’ve successfully applied its strategies to secure a new client contract, directly impacting my consulting business. The insights on identifying opportunities and positioning clients for success have been invaluable.

If you’re a consultant looking to elevate your expertise and drive real results for your clients in government contracting, I highly recommend GovClose. Thanks, Rick, for an outstanding program!

Theodore Stearns | Graviton Co. | GovClose Certified

Text message: Hey man, just wanna let you know the client that I sold the full roadmap on two weeks ago. I just ended my meeting with him to deliver it. He was blown away. Completely exceeded his expectations.

I learned everything that I know from you so many thanks to you.

Zach Huffman, SOFware LLC - USAF SBIR Contract Winner & 5 Star Review! 

Richard delivered an outstanding report to help our company develop a clear, actionable business development plan. He has tremendous insight into government contracting and took the time to educate our team about the various mechanisms for bidding on and funding government contracts. I highly recommend his consulting services for his knowledge, thoroughness and professionalism.

Luke Robertson | Founder of SophieBrain.Ai | Captain, A320 Delta Air Lines | Director, Energy Analysis Task Force

He's saved me hundreds of hours in research and provided spot on advice. I Recommend him to any company who wants to successfully and consistently sell services or goods to the US government!

Jared R - One of the best books you could ever get regarding Government Contracting

One of the best books you could ever get regarding Government Contracting coming from someone who scoured through 10+ books and 25+ hours of consuming government contracting content. I've been in the Government Contracting space for about 3 years now and have been through 2 high ticket courses 11 books and have listened to several people on YouTube talking about how to become successful as a government contractor.

Richard is the #1 Defense Contractor guide in the entire market. He knows everything it takes to land $1,000,000 contracts and breaks it down and into simple and easy steps anyone can take to land their first ground breaking contract.

I'd recommend listening to his entire podcast DoD Contract Academy to see how others have found success and how to understand the basic foundations of government contracting.

Ivan Loaiza | Business Owner | Business Development Manager at Honeywell | Army National Guard | GovClose Certified

The GovClose certification program was a game-changer for me.

Gavin Tice | Director of Enterprise and Federal Sales at TotalTek | Marine Veteran | GovClose Certified

The depth of knowledge I gained about government contracting is unmatched anywhere else. This is the best program for anyone serious about government sales.

Mark Snakenberg | Business Advisor | Defense Mission Expert | Retired Army Officer | GovClose Certified

If you are looking to level up in Government Contracting, Rick’s GovClose Certification program is a must.

Ross Orndorff | Senior Account Executive at Dex Tech | Public Sector CEO Outer Reach Consulting | GovClose Certified

This is the best program out there...

I highly recommend this certification to anyone serious about succeeding in government sales.

Michael Knickerbocker | CEO of KBR Advising LLC | US Navy Veteran | GovClose Certified

I highly recommend this for transitioning military looking to start a profitable business or work as a highly paid government contracting business developer.

Jeffrey Walker | President at Walgatti | GovClose Certified

His expertise in government contracting has provided valuable insights and knowledge.

Ross Facione | Business Development & Market Intelligence Specialist | GovClose Certified

For professionals seeking not just certification but a fundamental competitive advantage in federal contracting, GovClose delivers ROI that will continue compounding long after program completion. It's not training—it's transformation.

Dr. Forte Carter | CEO at GovAwards | GovClose Certified

The academic class is very in-depth and thorough. Richard C. Howard, Lt Col (Ret) is very knowledgeable and knows what it takes to land a government contract.

Michael Isenhour | Business & Federal Sales Consultant | US Army Veteran | GovClose Certified

Through his comprehensive program, you gain a deep understanding of government acquisitions, avoiding costly trial and errors while accelerating your success. This program delivers immediate wins and long-term competitive advantages.

Des Daniels | Owner, Federal Sales Consultant of D.E. Consulting | GovClose Certified

The skills you will gain is valuable for any industry and any size business.

NaKenya Swopes | Federal Sales Consultant | GovClose Certified

Designed for individuals at any experience level, GovClose will equip you with the knowledge and confidence to consistently win contracts for your own company.

Kresston Davis | CEO | Land Development Speciality Advisor | GovClose Certified

What I really appreciated is that it didn’t just focus on theory — it focused on execution. If you're looking for a new way to get into government contracting and you enjoy working with and guiding other businesses, this is definitely a solid route to consider.

Dan Elder | CEO of PatrioTek LLC | Military Veteran | GovClose Certified

Rick's teaching style was perfect for my military background - organized, clear, and straightforward. The GovClose program also comes with a great community of people who are always willing to help each other out.

Lindsay Helm

Richard and his team solved a major defense contracting hurdle for us. They provided expert advice and generated an official acquisitions contract response which paid for their service and then some. Highly recommend!

Marcos Ibarra

Richard's background as a DoD acquisitions office, expertise in government contracting and proven track record helping companies in the federal marketplace literally puts him in the top 1% of consultants in this field. He is a key resource for my company and I consider him a trusted advisor. Highly recommend his services to any business looking to increase business with the US government! 

Ernesto Bent - Game Changer for Government Contractors

Being part of over $100M in government contracts for the DoD, the book would have helped many contractors to find the right leads, not just get in the door but get the meetings, and close many more contracts. I get solicited many times from companies that have no clue as to what we do and their message ends up in the trash. Don't be that guy or gal. Do yourself a favor and pick up this book to guide you on how to do government contracting the right way and win contracts.

Jeffrey Feldberg - An Invaluable Resource

It's not often that you hear industry, secrets, and strategies that get results. Retired lieutenant colonel Richard Howard does exactly this and more on his podcast. If your business works with the government or you're thinking of getting into government contracts, this is the podcast to listen to...End of story. An excellent production.

Matt M. | Private Investor

Rick used his experience as a senior leader in US government acquisitions to hand craft a step by step approach for our company to sell directly to the government, simplifying a complicated process.

Claudean Ostrom | Director of Operations & Business Administration for L2 Cyber Solutions

Richard was able to look at our past performance analyze our business and build an targeted implementation plan. Richard's experience gives us great confidence in the roadmap he developed for us.

Oliver Noteware | Founder, CEO at Street Smarts VR | Infantry Officer, US Marine Corps

Richard and his team are world class experts on the US federal contracting process. They provide my company with routine expertise on difficult problem sets that include: business development strategy, requirement development, federal funding, sole source contracting and Foreign Military Sales (FMS). I highly recommend Richard C. Howard & Associates and consider them trusted advisors!

Amazon Customer - Excellent Primer of New Small Business Owners

I recently purchased my first small business. I'm a veteran and, although I worked in finance and acquisition for the Air Force, I didn't know the first thing about setting up my business so that I could compete for and win government contracts. Richards's DoD contracting academy gave me the foundation I needed to get registered in SAM.gov and position my business for success. I'm excited to see how the systems in this planet will help me along the journey. 

Podcast Listener - A Masterclass in Government Contracting

Every episode feels like a masterclass. Whether it's discussing compliance standards, sharing success stories, or exploring technological advancements, the podcast consistently delivers high-quality content.

Podcast Listener - Thankful to have discovered Richard's Podcast

I thought I had listened to every podcast out their related to government contracting. I was happily surprised when I recently discovered this hidden gem. Finally, someone was covering the information I was looking for.

LinkedIn User

Richard's knowledge of government procurement, sales, and contracting is second to none. He used his experience as a senior leader in US government acquisitions to hand craft a step by step approach for our company to sell directly to the government, simplifying a complicated process. He identified multiple customers that have a proven track record purchasing the type of product we sell and provided a rank ordered list of contract vehicle that would work for us. Additionally, he personally spoke with several government decision makers on our behalf and hand crafted a unique approach to working with specific US government agencies. I highly recommend Richard.

Podcast Listener - In-Depth Look at NASA Contracting

The episode with Dr. Bhaskar Dutta offered an in-depth look into the niche area of NASA contracting. Such specialized content is what make this podcast a standout resource.

Podcast Listener - Insightful Data Management Exploration

Exploring the $6 million spreadsheet was an insightful journey into the world of data management in contracts. This kind of in-depth analysis is both rare and highly educational.