[Congressional Record Volume 172, Number 76 (Thursday, April 30, 2026)]
[Senate]
[Pages S2164-S2165]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                       TRIBUTE TO RICHARD RITTER

  Mr. KAINE. Mr. President, I rise today to recognize Mr. Richard 
Ritter, a true patriot who has dedicated more than 55 years of service 
to this country, first as a commissioned officer in the U.S. Air Force 
and later as a civil servant and Senior Executive Service leader with 
the Strategic Defense Initiative Organization, the Ballistic Missile 
Defense Organization, and the Missile Defense Agency.
  A native of New York City, Mr. Ritter graduated from Manhattan 
College with a degree in electrical engineering, earned a master of 
science from New York University, and entered Active Duty in 1971 as an 
engineering officer. Over a distinguished 27-year Air Force career, he 
served in a range of critical roles, including systems engineering, 
telecommunications leadership in Germany, and strategic analysis of 
command, control, and reconnaissance systems.

[[Page S2165]]

  In 1990, Mr. Ritter was assigned to the Strategic Defense Initiative 
Organization, later the Ballistic Missile Defense Organization, where 
he led theater missile defense systems integration and battle 
management, command, control, and communications efforts across the 
Department of Defense and with allied partners. Following his military 
service, he continued this work as a civilian, serving in senior 
engineering and leadership roles responsible for system integration, 
interoperability, and architecture development for the Nation's missile 
defense programs.
  At the Missile Defense Agency, Mr. Ritter served as deputy program 
manager and later program director for Command and Control, Battle 
Management, and Communications, C2BMC, where his leadership was 
instrumental in establishing a global, integrated network supporting 
the Missile Defense System. There, he helped build a system that 
integrates data from sensors across 19 time zones and in orbit, 
providing real-time situational awareness and coordination to combatant 
commanders. His direction to deliver enhanced command-and-control 
capabilities and critical system updates directly increased weapon 
system effectiveness and contributed to the operational success of the 
Missile Defense System, helping to strengthen the protection of the 
United States and its allies.
  Mr. Ritter also played a key role in deploying forward-based radar 
systems and missile defense capabilities across Europe, the Indo-
Pacific, and the Middle East, strengthening coordination with allies 
and expanding the reach of U.S. missile defense. His work advanced 
space-based sensing, communications, and tracking capabilities and 
supported the development of integrated, multi-domain missile defense 
architectures that remain vital to our national security.
  Mr. Ritter's leadership and technical expertise have left an 
indelible mark on the Missile Defense Agency and on the Nation's 
defense. As he prepares for a well-earned retirement, I thank him for 
his commitment, perseverance, and dedication to the United States of 
America. I wish him the very best in the years ahead.

                          ____________________