Maj. Ray Ridley joined the Daniel K. Inouye Asia-Pacific Center for Security Studies as an Army fellow in July 2025, following his two-year assignment as the 17th commandant of the High Technology Regional Training Site-Maintenance in Sacramento.
In 2011, Ridley was commissioned as a signal officer. Upon completion of training, he served as the battalion S6 for the Army Forces Battalion located at Joint Task Force Bravo in Honduras. In 2013, he was assigned to the 86th Expeditionary Signal Battalion at Fort Bliss, Texas, where he served in several key development roles, including company executive officer, battalion S4, battalion assistant operations officer (S3 Air), and company commander. In 2016, he transitioned into the Army Reserve, where he served as battalion S6 for the 2-290th Mustang in Oklahoma, battalion S2 and S6 for the 3-345th at Fort Gilliam, Georgia, joint communications and operations officer for the Joint Enabling Capability Command in Norfolk, Virginia, and deputy G6 (AGR) for the 79th TSC in Los Alamitos, California.
Ridley holds a Bachelor of Arts in criminal justice from Florida Atlantic University in Boca Raton, Florida. He earned a Master of Arts in information technology management from Webster University in Missouri. Additionally, he obtained certifications as a Certified Information Security Manager (CISM) and Project Management Professional (PMP).
His military education includes Airborne School, Army Signal Officer Basic and Advanced Courses, and the Command and General Staff College. Some of Ridley’s military awards and decorations include the Defense Meritorious Service Medal, the Army Meritorious Service Medal, and the Basic Parachutist Badge.
