Rich Deotte, a native Texan, has called Tarrant County home for 27 years, with the last 14 spent in Southlake. Married for 34 years to Yvette, they are proud parents of three children. Rich graduated from Texas A&M University in 1985.
With a professional background spanning 34 years, Rich is a seasoned Civil Engineer and land development consultant. He has been the majority owner of DeOtte, Inc. since 2000, a civil engineering and development consulting firm in Keller, Texas. His focus lies in providing cost-effective and innovative solutions to large-scale drainage and erosion control projects, municipal infrastructure, and exceptional residential developments in northeast Tarrant County. Rich has also served as an expert consultant and witness on engineering-related court cases for the past two decades.
In the realm of public service, Rich served two years as the chairman of the Tarrant County Sheriff's Department Civil Service Commission. During his tenure, he initiated and led a much-needed major re-write of civil service rules, a reform that passed and was successfully implemented. A regular public speaker on various issues, Rich provides training on engineering ethics, emphasizing personal happiness and responsible professional standards.
Rich's commitment to community service extends to his involvement in Boy Scouts, where he served as Den Leader, Assistant Scout Master, and Scout Master. Additionally, he taught physics for a year on a voluntary basis and holds a Technician License as a ham radio operator (KG5FYB). Active in church throughout his adult life, Rich has chaired building committees, taught Sunday school, preached, led worship, served as a deacon, and chaired a deacon board.
With a professional record of solving technically complicated problems with large groups of people holding diverse interests, Rich excels at engaging and assisting parties to work together to resolve issues. Throughout his personal, professional, and volunteer life, his proficiency in bringing people together to find common ground and collaborate on finding the right solution has been crucial.