Captain W. Scott Ryder
Captain Scott Ryder was born in La Junta, Colorado on 13 September 1954 to Bill and Shirley Ryder. He calls Oregon home having grown up in Grants Pass, graduating from high school there in 1973 and Oregon State University in 1977. In June 1982, he was commissioned an Ensign through the Aviation Officer Candidate Program and was designated a Naval Aviator at VT-4 in Pensacola, Florida in June 1984. In April 1985, after replacement pilot training in VA 122 flying the A-7E Corsair, he reported to VA-192 where his squadron made a six month deployment to Iwakuni, Japan with Marine Air Group TWELVE. In August 1986, he made a transition to the FA-18 Hornet and subsequently accompanied the redesignated VFA-192 on a homeport shift to Atsugi, Japan deploying aboard USS MIDWAY (CV 41).
Following his tour with the Golden Dragons, Captain Ryder was assigned to the Pilot Exchange Program with the Canadian Air Force at CFB Cold Lake, Alberta where he flew the CF-18 as an instructor pilot with the 410 Squadron Cougars from November 1987 to October 1989. In February 1990, after completion of his Canadian exchange tour, Captain Ryder reported for duty as Strike Operations Officer to Commander, Carrier Group SEVEN embarked aboard USS RANGER (CV 6l) in the Arabian Gulf during Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm.
In September 1992, following refresher training in the FA-l8 Hornet, Captain Ryder reported to Strike Fighter Weapons School, Pacific as interim Executive Officer for six months. He subsequently joined Strike Fighter Squadron 94 as a Department Head in March 1993. After completion of two deployments aboard USS ABRAHAM LINCOLN (CVN 72) with the Mighty Shrikes, Captain Ryder reported to the Rough Raiders of VFA-125 as Operations Officer.
Captain Ryder joined Strike Fighter Squadron 22, the Fighting Redcocks as Executive Officer in September 1997 and took the reigns as Redcock One from 31 January 1999 to 1l May 2000. After leaving the squadron he was detailed to the Industrial College of the Armed Forces (ICAF), earning a Master of Science degree in National Resource Strategy, graduating in June of 2001. He then served nearly three years on The Joint Staff as Chief of the Command Center Operations Division of the National Military Command Center and coordinator of the Chairman's Continuity of Operations program. In May of 2004, Captain Ryder assumed command of Naval Air Station Fallon in Fallon, Nevada. In July of 2007 he reported to his current position at University of Idaho as Commanding Officer of the NROTC Unit UI/WSU. Captain Ryder has accumulated more than 3,000 flight hours, 2,500 of which have been in the FA-18 Hornet, and more than 600 carrier arrested landings.
