Dr. Richard N. Drake (1945-2011) was the founder and Chief Executive Officer of Phoenix University of Theology (now Primus University of Theology International) and the architect of the contemporary adaptation of the Classic Ecclesiastical University System. He also served as President of Spiritual Concepts International Seminary.

He was ordained a Cumberland Presbyterian minister in 1980 and served as Pastor of Presbyterian, Methodist and Independent churches for over twenty years. He designed  and taught continuing education classes for pastors, accredited through the University of Arkansas at Little Rock, Arkansas and Perkins School of Theology in Dallas,Texas. He founded Good Samaritan Ministries and the Food 4 Work initiative in Tennessee and Arkansas, which became the Army of Compassion.

Governor Don Sundquist of Tennessee dubbed Richard a “Four-star General in the Army of Compassion” and recommended him to President George W. Bush to direct the Faith-based and Community Initiative Office of the White House in 2001. After the events of 9/11, Dr. Drake reported that God told him to withdraw his name from consideration, go back to Phoenix and build the Army of Compassion from the ground up, and that the university would be to the Army of Compassion what Annapolis is to the Navy.

Prior to entering full-time ministry at the age of 33, Dr. Drake worked primarily in corporate growth and marketing and as a political consultant, where he was an effective activist in promoting sanctity against government and elitist encroachment. He was an alumnus of Little Rock University, where he majored in Pre-law and Accounting, and Bethel College, where he majored in Religious Studies. He earned his Masters in Theology and Doctor of Ministry degrees from Spiritual Concepts International Seminary and his Doctorate in Theology from Phoenix Theological Seminary (now Primus University of Theology International).