Casa Grande economic development director set for return to Afghanistan
by Heather Smathers | Casa Grande Dispatch
Richard Wilkie alongside Tim Kanavel discussing Pinal County’s growth and projects on the horizon at a July AAED event.
It’s been eight years since Richard Wilkie has been to Afghanistan, but by this time next month he will have returned.
Wilkie is the economic development director for the city of Casa Grande. He said it’s difficult to leave some of his pet projects behind, but it’s the sacrifice he’s making as he prepares to head to Afghanistan for a deployment as an officer with the U.S. Navy Reserve.
It’s not the first time Wilkie has been deployed. He was in Afghanistan in 2008-09 as well. While there, he said, he felt a strong connection with the local people and learned some of the language and culture.