Pate Building Group was founded in 2026, but the project record behind it was not. Its founder spent the last decade delivering federal and international construction programs from inside top-tier primes; its Chairman has spent four decades building — and leading — Alabama’s construction community. Together, that is the capability the firm is built on.
Richard is an international construction executive with over a decade of experience managing complex U.S. Department of Defense and NAVFAC projects across Europe and the Middle East. He founded Pate Building Group in 2026. Most recently he has held ultimate responsibility for a portfolio of active federal projects exceeding $120 million throughout Italy, including business development with NAVFAC and USACE clients in theater.
He holds a Bachelor of Science in Building Construction from Auburn University and an active U.S. Government Top Secret clearance.
Ultimate responsibility for all active projects exceeding $120M throughout Italy, plus business development with NAVFAC and USACE clients.
Full management of a $35M NAVFAC renovation project on NAS II.
Full management of a $6.5M USACE renovation project at Kelley Barracks.
$195M OBO New Consulate Compound. Submittals, RFIs, cost impacts, QC/QA, LEED documentation, and closeout.
Supported design-build and bid-build embassy projects in the $150M–$200M range, including work in Russia, Turkmenistan, Sri Lanka, Saudi Arabia, and Paraguay.
Rick is a lifelong Alabama contractor, businessman, and public servant. He founded Pate Landscape in Montgomery in 1982 and led it for nearly four decades, building a profitable, award-winning firm and rising through the state’s construction industry to serve as President of the Alabama AGC. Since 2019 he has served two terms as Alabama’s Commissioner of Agriculture and Industries.
He joins Pate Building Group as Chairman, bringing capital, credit support, and four decades of relationships across Alabama’s contractor, banking, and government community.
Statewide elected constitutional officer; two terms at the head of the Alabama Department of Agriculture and Industries.
Led the state’s principal commercial construction trade association; later named a Life Governor of AGC of America.
Built and led a landscape contracting firm for nearly four decades, earning a statewide reputation for client relationships and quality craftsmanship. The firm has since been sold.
We are building a bench of federal project managers and superintendents ahead of our first awards. If you have run DoD work and want real ownership of it, we want to talk.
