Chief Richard Sneed

Job Title: Chief of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians
Organization: Eastern Band of the Cherokee Indians

Richard G. Sneed’s life’s work has been one of public service advocating for youth, community building, and cultural preservation. 

After graduating from Cherokee High School in 1986, Sneed served in the United States Marine Corp for four years. Sneed earned his degree from Universal Technical College in Phoenix, AZ, and holds a North Carolina Teaching License in Industrial Arts. While pastoring the Christ Fellowship Church of Cherokee for fourteen years, Sneed also taught vocational education at Cherokee Central Schools for twelve of those years. 

In 2015, Sneed was elected Vice Chief of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians. In 2017, he was sworn in as Principal Chief of the Eastern Band and subsequently re-elected in 2019. 

Chief Sneed is committed to ensuring that the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians continues to thrive for generations to come.