Captain Ted Ricciardella

Captain Ted Ricciardella grew up in Bethesda, MD and attended Dickinson College. He taught high school U.S. History for three years before attending Officer Candidate School in Pensacola, FL where he was commissioned in September 1996.  He earned his wings of gold and was designated as a Naval Flight Officer in May 1998.

CAPT Ricciardella reported to the Grim Reapers of VF-101 following flight school for initial training in the F-14 Tomcat.  Upon completion, he reported to the World Famous Red Rippers of VF-11.  During his tour with the Rippers, he deployed twice in support of Operations SOUTHERN WATCH and ENDURING FREEDOM.

In 2001, after graduating from the Naval Fighter Weapons School, CAPT Ricciardella remained at NAS Fallon, NV as a TOPGUN tactics instructor and Subject Matter Expert (SME).

In October 2005, CAPT Ricciardella reported to the Swordsmen of VF-32 as the Training Officer.  A "plank owner" of VFA-32, he helped successfully transition the squadron from the F-14 Tomcat to the F/A-18F Super Hornet.  In September 2007, CDR Ricciardella reported to the Blacklions of VFA-213 where he served as a Department Head.  While attached, he completed a combat deployment to the Central Command Area of Operations with CVW-8 and the THEODORE ROOSEVELT Strike Group.  In February 2010, CDR Ricciardella was assigned to the Navy Personnel Command as the Strike Fighter Assignments and Placement Officer.

In May 2013 CAPT Ricciardella reported as Executive Officer to the Blacklions of VFA-213.  He served as Commanding Officer of VFA-213 from August 2014 to November 2015 where he deployed on USS GEORGE H W BUSH (CVN 77) in support of Operations ENDURING FREEDOM and INHERENT RESOLVE. Following his command tour, he was a Navy Federal Executive Fellow at The John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University during Academic Year 2016-2017.  Following his fellowship tour, CAPT Ricciardella served as the Executive Assistant to Commander, Naval Air Force Atlantic in Norfolk, VA, Strike Fighter Wing Atlantic, August 2019-May 2021 as Deputy Commander.​

He reported to Strike Fighter Wing Atlantic, May 2021 as Commander.