Lee Ritchey - 2021 Honorary Doctor of Science

Lee 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. Through Speeding Edge, Mr. Ritchey has taught over 11,000 engineers– both domestic and international. He is a life member of the Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers, a founding member of the Printed Circuit Design Conference, a member of the DesignCon Conference Planning Committee, and a Cofounder and Sponsor of Hornet Leadership Program.

Mr. Ritchey has written over 100 technical articles published in trade journals and conference proceedings and authored three internationally recognized books: High-Speed PCB Design (1999), Right the First Time, A Practical Handbook on High-Speed PCB and System Design, Volumes 1 and 2 (2003, 2006). He is considered the leading PCB expert by the industry’s largest trade journal. In addition to publishing and consultation, Mr. Ritchey designed the actual radio used in NASA’s Apollo Space Program – he put the very first transistor on the moon. Additionally, Mr. Ritchey has served as a scoutmaster for six years, has served on the Pacific Highline Boy Scouts of America (BSA) Council for 11 years, is on the Bodega Bay Citizens Emergency Response Team, and is a member of the Sonoma County Aircraft Museum.

In addition to decades of industry expertise, Mr. Ritchey is a frequent guest lecturer in the College of Engineering and Computer Science (ECS). He demonstrated his faith in a vision for an extra-curricular leadership program for students at Sacramento State. New ideas were offered, promising plans were made, but no one stepped up to make a substantial financial donation to help launch the program. Mr. Ritchey made a substantial financial gift to the college to launch the Hornet Leadership Program (HLP). Now in its third year and serving hundreds of students, HLP provides nearly $30,000 in scholarships annually and is funded by almost $450,000 in donation money from additional college friends. Mr. Ritchey has inspired others to follow his lead and give generously to Sacramento State students. Mr. Ritchey’s expertise, scholarship, service, and philanthropy add immense value to the College of ECS and Sacramento State.