
1985-1992
INSIGHT MAGAZINE
Senior Writer
Covered domestic and international
affairs - writing 22 cover stories and
numerous other articles in five years.
Special investigations included Inside Iraq (1986), the first NASA shuttle tragedy and the nuclear disaster at Chernobyl. Covered Desert Storm with exclusive interviews with Colin Powell and Norman Schwarzkopf.
Won National Headliner Award for
"Outstanding Coverage of a Major
News Event," the Afghan War.
Highlights of Mackenzie's career... To view his films, go to the Mackenzie Films page...
2009
Mackenzie Productions is working on contract as “Senior Producer” of a 13-hour series, “Lock n’ Load,”
for History channel, featuring “Gunny” R. Lee Ermey of “Full Metal Jacket” fame (where he played a
Drill Instructor) as host of the program. Each episode of “Lock & Load” is a fun, informative chrono-
logical examination of a weapon or weapons system from it’s invention to the latest and greatest. The
centerpieces of the show are Gunny’s hands-on, live fire demonstrations of the weapons that give the
viewer a close-up view of the weapon in action. The Mackenzie role in this series is to originate and
organize U.S. military participation and presence in each episode as well as liaise with the Army, Marines, Navy and Air Force on behalf of the Lock n’ Load series.
2008
Produced “Flight of the V-22 Osprey,” the story of the controversial tilt
rotor aircraft that killed 30 men in its test flights and finally cost more
than $20 billion dollars. Mackenzie and his team travel with the Osprey
Squadron, living and flying with them day and night for two months in
Iraq in search of answers. This film was made for Discovery’s Military
Channel.
Also produced and directed the first one-hour version of Lock n’ Load as
a pilot for the History channel (on the evolution of the rifle), which led to
the program becoming a 13-episode series.
2006-2007
PRODUCING A LONG-FORM DOCUMENTARY IN AFGHANISTAN & WORKING ON A BOOK ON RECENT AFGHAN HISTORY.
2005
TSUNAMI: ANIMAL INSTINCT, 21ST CENTURY WARFIGHTER, COMBAT READY, TSUNAMI:
ONE YEAR LATER (for several Discovery networks)
Traveling from Germany to Thailand and Sri Lanka in 2005, Mackenzie produced and wrote seven hours of television documentaries on a wide variety of subjects -- from animals saving humans after the tsunami to the latest technology, tactics, weapons and strategy to train and equip U.S. troops for war.
2004
TASK FORCE RED DOG (ABC Nightline and Discovery): Producer
After spending six months on the front line with a USMC helicopter squadron and U.S. Army infantry units hunting Osama bin Laden, Mackenzie produced three films -- two for ABC Nightline and a one-hour documentary that launched Discovery's Military Channel.
2001
Launched Mackenzie Productions. See Mackenzie Films page...
1998-2001
NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC TELEVISION: Supervising Producer/Writer
Produced and wrote feature films for network television series, National Geographic Explorer. Subjects ranged from breaking news and exploration to natural history. Worked more than 30 projects per year.
1995-1998
FREE-LANCE JOURNALIST AND FILM PRODUCER
Wrote for various publications including the New Republic. Produced documentaries for television including Dateline NBC, ABC News and others.
Co-Author: Fundamentalism Reborn? Afghanistan Under the Taliban (NYU Press, 1998)
1993 - 1995
CNN: Investigative Producer & Writer
Worked in CNN Special Assignment Unit producing long-form documentaries -- including the first
World Trade Center bombing, Russian Organized Crime and global cocaine cartels. Won the Edward R. Murrow Award for “The Kingdom of Cocaine.”
other recognition. The New York Times called that documentary an "amazing" and "astonishing" film that offered "a visceral, intimate look" at Afghanistan and her people.
tel: +1 (240) 505-0907
e-mail: Richard@MackenzieProductions.com
skype: MackenzieFilms
fax: +1 (202) 403-3378