Bishop Richard B. Higgins was born 22 February 1944 in Longford, Ireland. He attended St. Michael's National School and graduated from St. Mel's College in Longford in 1962. He studied philosophy and theology at the Pontifical Lateran University, Rome, and was ordained to the priesthood (for the Diocese of Sacramento, California) on 9 March 1968 in the Basilica of St. John in the Lateran.

From September 1968 until March 1973 he served as associate pastor at St. Rose of Lima, Roseville, California. He was transferred to St. Patrick's Church, Grass Valley, California, where he served as associate pastor until he joined the United States Air Force in September of 1974.

His Air Force chaplain assignments included Lowry AFB, Denver, Colorado; Keflavik Naval Station, Iceland; Laughlin AFB, Texas; Bitburg Air Base, Germany; Malmstrom AFB, Montana; Air Command and Staff College, Maxwell AFB, Alabama; RAF Lakenheath, England; Pope AFB, North Carolina; the United States Air Force Academy, Colorado; Nellis AFB, Nevada; Headquarters, Pacific Air Forces, Hawaii; and a final assignment at the United States Air Force Academy, Colorado.

Bishop Higgins was named a domestic prelate by Pope John Paul II in March 1997. Bishop Higgins retired from the United States Air Force following 30 years of active duty effective 1 September 2004, in the grade of colonel.

Bishop Higgins is a graduate of Air Command and Staff College and Air War College.

His military decorations include: The Legion of Merit with One Oak Leaf Cluster, the Air Force Meritorious Service Medal with Seven Oak Leaf Clusters, the Air Force Commendation Medal with One Oak Leaf Cluster, and the National Defense Medal with One Oak Leaf Cluster.

Bishop Higgins is an accomplished aviator and holds an Airline Transport Pilot certificate and several Flight Instructor Certificates.

Bishop Higins was ordained to the episcopacy 3 July 2004 in the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception, Washington, DC.   He assumed his present duties on 1 October 2004.

On 1 October 2007, upon Archbishop O'Brien's installation as the Archbishop of Baltimore, Bishop Higgins is the Archdiocesan Administrator for the Military Vicariate until such time as Archbishop O'Brien's successor is named and installed.