11 Facts About Richard Sneed

Richard G Sneed was born on December 20,1967 and is a Cherokee politician who served as the 28th Principal Chief of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians.

Richard Sneed is a graduate of Cherokee High School in Cherokee, North Carolina.

Richard Sneed's family is from the Wolfetown Community of the Qualla Boundary.

Richard Sneed is a veteran of the United States Marine Corps, and a graduate of Universal Technical Institute in Phoenix, Arizona, and Southwestern Community College in Sylva, North Carolina.

Richard Sneed holds a North Carolina teaching license in industrial arts.

Richard Sneed taught vocational classes at Cherokee High School where he was recognized as National Classroom Teacher of the Year by the National Indian Education Association.

Richard Sneed has served as the senior pastor of the Christ Fellowship Church of Cherokee.

Richard Sneed began his services as an elected tribal leader for the tribe after winning election as principal vice-chief in September 2015 and assumed office in October 2015.

Formerly, Patrick Lambert was serving as the 27th Principal Chief but Richard Sneed began service as principal chief on in May 2017 after his predecessor was impeached and removed by the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians Tribal Council.

In September 2017, Yellowhill Tribal Council member Alan B Ensley assumed the principal vice-chief title left vacant after Sneed became Principal Chief.

Richard Sneed was re-elected as Principal Chief in 2019 for a full-term, but lost reelection in 2023 to former Chief Michell Hicks.