Rick Ladd graduated from Vermont Academy. Ladd served in the U.S. Army and reached the rank of first lieutenant. He earned a B.A. from the University of Maine in 1967 and an M.S. from the University of Southern Maine in 1974. Ladd's career experience includes working as a school administrator, a teacher, and a principal. He has served as the Principals' Association liaison with the Maine Education Committee, a trustee of the University System of New Hampshire, and a member of the Town of Haverhill Selectboard.
