Meet Rip

Your Voice in State Government

Richard C. “Rip” Sullivan, Jr. and his wife Beth are Langley High School sweethearts.

Having lived in McLean for over 50 years, McLean, Great Falls, Vienna, and the other parts of the 6th District have long been home to them. Beth and Rip have four adult children, all of whom graduated from Fairfax County public schools, and six grandchildren. 

Rip graduated magna cum laude from Amherst College and received his law degree from the University of Virginia. He is a partner in the law firm Bean Kinney & Korman, P.C., in Arlington.

As a Delegate Rip has fought every year to defend reproductive freedom, encourage the growth of Virginia’s clean energy and energy efficiency sectors, promote access to the ballot box, address the gun violence epidemic, expand healthcare access, and protect and advance LGBTQ rights. Rip serves as Chair of the powerful Labor and Commerce Committee’s Energy Subcommittee, a role in which he uses his deep experience legislating in the energy space to help shape the way Virginia moves forward on these crucial issues. Currently, Rip serves on the Labor and Commerce Committee, the Courts of Justice Committee, the Finance Committee, and the Rules Committee. He is looking forward to continuing to address these issues on behalf of the 6th District.

Rip is an experienced leader who has delivered proven results in Richmond. Rip wrote and carried the historic Virginia Clean Economy Act to battle climate change and advance the Commonwealth’s clean energy sector and promote energy efficiency. He also was the author and patron of Virginia’s life-saving “Red Flag” law, which stops gun violence before a single shot is fired. He was the Chief Co-Patron of the Clean Cars bill, which launched Virginia’s effort to up its game and increase the pace of our transition to electric vehicles. He was the author of “Jacob’s Law,” which strengthens surrogacy rights for gay and straight couples (as well as single parents) who want to start a family in Virginia. Rip worked diligently with stakeholders and his colleagues to ensure that these landmark bills all became law.

Before being elected to the House of Delegates, Rip served our region on numerous boards and commissions, providing him with extensive experience in a number of key policy areas that have directly translated to his work in the General Assembly.

More information on these issues, and Rip’s legislative priorities can be found here.

United States Institute of Peace – International Advisory Council Member

Fairfax County Park Authority Board – former Board Member 

Fairfax County Housing and Redevelopment Authority – former Vice-Chair – Fairfax Transportation Advisory Commission – former member

Virginia Commission on Civics Education – former member

Fairfax Consumer Protection Commission – former member 

George Mason University School of Law – former Adjunct Professor 

Legal Services of Northern Virginia – former President and Board Member

Potomac Legal Aid Society – former Board Member 

Virginia Law Foundation – Fellow 

Virginia State Bar Council – Represented the 19th Judicial Circuit (2003-2009) 

Virginia Bar Association – Member of the Board of Governors (2006-2009) 

Virginia Bar Association Committee on Federal Judgeships – Eastern District, former 

Virginia State Bar Professionalism Course – former Faculty Member 

Arlington Bar Association 

Fairfax Bar Association 

Fairfax Law Foundation – former Board Member 

Federal Bar Association 

Alexandria Bar Foundation – former Board Member 

Homestretch, Inc. – former Vice Chairman and Board Member 

McLean Community Foundation – former President and Board Member 

McLean Project for the Arts Advisory Board 

Sorensen Institute for Political Leadership at The University of Virginia – former Board Member 

Virginia State Bar/Virginia Bar Association Alternative Dispute Resolution Joint Committee – Member and former Chair

Virginia State Bar Emergency Legal Services Task Force – former Chairman

Virginia State Bar Special Committee on Access to Legal Services – former Member and Chairman of the Subcommittee on Funding Alternatives 

Virginia State Bar Special Committee on the Resolution of Fee Disputes – former Chairman 

Dranesville Budget Task Force – former Chair