You have to enable and empower people to make decisions independent of you. As I've learned, each person on a team is an extension of your leadership; if they feel empowered by you they will magnify your power to lead.

He earned the Bronze Star National Defense Service Medal Vietnam Service Medal Vietnam Campaign Medal Vietnam Gallantry Cross Unit Citation with Palm and the Combat Infantryman Badge. In January 2004 Ridge was named among others in a lawsuit filed by a Syrian-born Canadian Maher Arar who said he was tortured in Syria after being deported by American authorities. Ridge was also reportedly Colin Powell's choice to be Secretary of Defense in Bush's new cabinet.

Ridge spent time campaigning with Senator John McCain during his 2008 bid for the presidency and was believed by some to have been in the short list of potential running mates. Since re-entering the private sector Ridge has served on the boards of The Home Depot The HerTom Ridgey Company and Exelon Corporation and as a senior advisor to Deloitte & Touche and TechRadium. C.