California State ​University, Sacramento

A 2015 California State University, Sacramento Distinguished Alumnus, Lee Ritchey designed the radio used in NASA's Apollo Space Program. In fact, he is responsible for putting the very first transistor on the moon. Mr. Ritchey is the founder and president of Speeding Edge, an international company engaged in training, consulting and publishing on high-speed design topics such as signal integrity analysis, printed circuit board (PCB) design and electromagnetic interference (EMI) control.

Mr. Ritchey has taught more than 11,000 engineers, both in the United States and internationally. He is considered the leading PCB expert by the industry's largest trade journal, has written more than 100 technical articles and authored three internationally recognized books. Mr. Ritchey is a lifetime member of the Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers, founding member of the Printed Circuit Design Conference and a member of the DesignCon Conference Planning Committee.

In addition to his professional commitments, Mr. Ritchey also served on the Pacific Highline Boy Scouts of America Council for 11 years, and currently serves on the Bodega Bay Citizens Emergency Response Team. He also provides service to the Sonoma County Aircraft Museum.

Mr. Ritchey's impact on the College of Engineering and Computer Science (ECS) at Sacramento State is significant. He is a frequent guest lecturer and a generous co-founder and sponsor of the College of ECS's Hornet Leadership Program. The program provides nearly $30,000 in scholarships annually. Mr. Ritchey's expertise, service and philanthropy add immense value to the College of ECS and California State University, Sacramento.

In recognition of his outstanding professional achievements and his significant support of future engineers, the Board of Trustees of the California State University and California State University, Sacramento are proud to confer upon Lee Ritchey the honorary degree of Doctor of Science.​