Dr. Ritchie was born in Fort Walton Beach, Florida.  After seeing several exotic parts of the country courtesy of the Air Force, his family settled back into life in Fort Walton where he graduated from Choctawhatchee High School in 1976. 

He attended Auburn University for his undergraduate education earning a Bachelor of Science degree in 1980 in Laboratory Technology.  While at Auburn, he was a member of the marching band, concert band, and Lambda Tau Laboratory Honorary Fraternity.  If you like college football, he speaks the language.  WAR EAGLE!

Following his undergraduate studies, Dr. Ritchie attended the University of Maryland at Baltimore for graduate study in the field of Forensic Toxicology.  He earned his Master's degree completing his thesis in 1984 along with having several articles published in the Journal of Analytic Toxicology and presented at the national meeting of the American Academy of Forensic Science.

After a change in career paths, he received his dental education at Georgetown University in Washington, DC graduating Magna Cum Laude in 1988.  He is a member of Omicron Kappa Upsilon, dental honorary fraternity, and Psi Omega, dental social fraternity.  He was also an active member of the Oral Cancer Society where he was chosen to attend a summer clerkship at the Memorial Sloan-Kettering Hospital in New York City.  While in dental school, he was also chosen to represent Georgetown University in a student exchange program with the Trinity College School of Dentistry in Dublin, Ireland.

Professionally, Dr. Ritchie has been a member of the American Dental Association, Florida Dental Association, NW District Dental Association, Academy of General Dentistry, Florida Academy of General Dentistry, and the EscaRosa Dental Association.  In addition to his experience in private practice, he has served as both staff dentist and senior dentist for the State of Florida Department of Corrections and as a consultant to the medical department of Bay Correctional Facility in Panama City, FL.

Dr. Ritchie is married with three daughters and a granddaughter.  He and his family attend Pinewoods Presbyterian Church (PCA) where he has served as a Deacon and currently serves as an Elder.  He has participated in mission trips to Costa Rica and Merida, Mexico.