Prior to his current position, Pete “Silverback” Ridilla served as the Deputy Officer in Charge of Construction for the Officer in Charge of Construction – Marine Corps Marianas. He was responsible for executing the construction of $8.7B Defense Policy Review Initiative’s (DPRI) relocation of US Marine Forces from Okinawa to Guam, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CMNI) and other outlying islands. He ensured all requirements for Marine Corps’ operational plan execution, training, garrison operations and life support of the Marines and their families meet DoD standards. Additionally, he was responsible for implementing the One Guam philosophy and interacting with local leaders, civic action, and cultural preservation groups to ensure the complex requirements of the Programmatic Agreement are met.
Mr. Ridilla is a native of Brooklyn, Ohio and a 1988 graduate of the United States Air Force Academy where he earned a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering. He also holds a Master of Science in Engineering and Environmental Management from the Air Force Institute of Technology. He is a graduate of the US Air Force’s Air War College and a Registered Professional Engineer in the State of Florida.
Mr. Ridilla is a retired US Air Force Engineer with multiple combat, operational and command tours throughout the world. He is a Bronze Star decorated combat engineer and veteran of Operations Desert Shield and Storm, Operation Joint Endeavor in Bosnia, Operation Enduring Freedom in the Middle East and Operation Iraqi Freedom.
Mr. Ridilla’s active duty assignments include Myrtle Beach AFB, South Carolina, Royal Air Force Station Chicksands, United Kingdom, Hurlburt Field, Florida, Scott AFB, Illinois, Kadena AB, Japan, Andersen AFB, Guam, and Columbus AFB, Mississippi. He also served as an Assistant Professor of Civil Engineering at the US Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs.
Upon retirement from active duty, Mr. Ridilla served as the Deputy Public Works Officer for Naval Base Guam, the Director of Public Works for US Army Garrison Bavaria and the Deputy Garrison Commander at Soto Cano Air Base in Honduras.
Mr. Ridilla also worked for the National Science Foundation where he served as the lead engineer for the United States Antarctic Program’s three year round research stations and multiple seasonal field camps. During one of his deployments to Antarctica he was appointed as the Senior United States Representative Antarctica and was responsible for all US operations on the continent.
Mr. Ridilla has been married to his beautiful wife, Robin, for over 27 years. They have raised three children and they share a passion of exploring the wild outdoors, travel, alpine sports and SCUBA diving.
Last Updated: 10 August 2022