Richard Winston Mayell knew he wanted to be amongst the higher-ups (if not the highest up) of Starfleet very early in his life. This was perhaps inevitable, as he was born into a dedicated Starfleet family with a long history of minor distinction who expected military excellence in all their sons, and fine military marriages for all their daughters.

Born in Brooklyn, NYC, he attended the same grade school PS 39 as Captain Shimbo attended.