Brigadier General Steve Ritchie (Retired)

Fighter Ace, Motivational Speaker

General Ritchie was born June 25, 1942 in Reidsville, North Carolina. He earned a Bachelor of Science Degree from the United States Air Force Academy in 1964 and completed Air War College in 1989.
He entered pilot training in August 1964, graduating first in his class. He was then assigned to Flight Testing Operations at Eglin AFB, Florida, flying the F-104 Starfighter. After two years in the Air Force Systems Command, he was reassigned to the Tactical Air Command at Homestead AFB, Florida, for combat crew training in the F-4 Phantom.

In 1968, General Ritchie served as a F-4 pilot at DaNang Air Base, Vietnam, where he flew the first F-4 Forward Air Controller (FAC) mission in Southeast Asia. He was instrumental in the spread of the Fast FAC program throughout Southeast Asia, which proved to be one of the most successful operations of the entire conflict. In 1969, he completed the F-4 Fighter Weapons School at Nellis AFB, Nevada, and became one of the youngest instructors in the history of the school.

General Ritchie volunteered for a second tour in Southeast Asia in January 1972 and was assigned to the 432d Tactical Fighter Reconnaissance Wing. He served a Wing Weapons Officer, and it was during this tour that General Ritchie scored five Mig-21 victories. He shot down the first Mig on 10 May and another on 31 May. He downed two more Mig-21s on 28 July in a classic low altitude dogfight. General Ritchie was victorious again on 28 August, while flying his 339th combat mission, when he shot down his fifth Mig-21, making him the Air Force´s first and only pilot ACE since the Korean war and the only American Air Force pilot in history to down five Mig-21s.

General Ritchie left active duty in April 1974 to run for the U.S. Congress from the State of North Carolina. He has held various executive positions with civilian corporations and served as Director of the Office of Child Support Enforcement, Department of Health and Human Services, Washington, D.C. In his current civilian capacity, General Ritchie is president of Steve Ritchie Associates, Inc., Golden, Colorado.
In 1976 General Ritchie´s reserve career began in the 104th Tactical Fighter Group, Air National Guard (ANG) at Buckley ANG Base, Colorado. He was then assigned to the Colorado ANG Headquarters, Denver, Colorado as a state public affairs officer in December 1980. In 1985, he was assigned as Director of Operations, HQ United States Air Force and, in December 1987, was assigned as Planning Officer, HQ United States Air Force. Prior to his assignment, General Ritchie was the Mobilization Assistant to the Assistant Vice Chief of Staff, HQ United States Air Force.

General Ritchie is a command pilot with more than 3,000 flying hours, including 800 combat hours. His military awards include the 1972 "Mackay Trophy" for the most significant Air Force Mission of the year, presented by the Air Force Chief of Staff; the 1973 VFW "Armed Forces Award" for outstanding contributions to the national security of the United States; the 1972 "Colonel James Jabara Award for Airmanship," presented by the U.S. Air Force Academy Association of Graduates; and the 1973 "Eugene M. Zuckert Award" for outstanding Air Force Professionalism and Leadership, presented by the Arnold Aid Society. In 1973, he was named to the Outstanding Young Men of America. On Novemeber 1, 1997, General Ritchie was inducted into the Colorado Aviation Hall of Fame. His decorations include the Air Force Cross, four Silver Stars, 10 Distinguished Flying Crosses, 25 Air Medals, the Air Force Meritorious Service Medal, and the Air Force Commendation Medal.