About this Unit
**United States Strategic Command (USSTRATCOM) at Fort Ritchie, Maryland, was a key component of America's Cold War defense infrastructure. Established in the mid-20th century, Fort Ritchie served as a vital communications and operations center, supporting the command and control of strategic nuclear forces. The installation housed various units responsible for secure communications, intelligence, and planning, contributing to the nation's nuclear deterrence capabilities. Although USSTRATCOM's primary headquarters is now located at Offutt Air Force Base, Nebraska, Fort Ritchie played an important historical role in the evolution of strategic command and control during its years of operation.**
Historical Facts
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USSTRATCOM's Modern Location: U.S. Strategic Command (USSTRATCOM) is currently headquartered at Offutt Air Force Base, Nebraska. However, Fort Ritchie, Maryland, has its own significant military history, primarily associated with intelligence and communications units, not USSTRATCOM.
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Fort Ritchie's Origins: Fort Ritchie began as a Maryland National Guard training site in 1926, originally called the "Camp Ritchie Military Reservation," and was named after Governor Albert C. Ritchie.
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World War II Training Center: During WWII, Fort Ritchie became a key U.S. Army intelligence training center, most famously home to the "Ritchie Boys"—a unit of mostly Jewish immigrants from Germany and Austria who were trained in interrogation and psychological warfare.
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The Ritchie Boys' Impact: The Ritchie Boys provided critical intelligence during WWII. Their interrogations of German POWs produced up to 60% of actionable intelligence on the Western Front.
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Cold War Role: After WWII, Fort Ritchie served as the headquarters for the Army's Military District of Washington and later as a communications and emergency relocation site for high-ranking government and military officials in the event of nuclear war.
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Underground Operations: The site included extensive underground facilities designed for secure communications and command operations during both the Cold War and potential crises.
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USSTRATCOM Connections: While not the headquarters, Fort Ritchie supported national-level strategic communications, which indirectly related to the missions of commands such as USSTRATCOM.
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Operation Looking Glass: Fort Ritchie played a backup role in national command authority communications, part of a network that included Offutt AFB, headquarters of USSTRATCOM (and its predecessor, Strategic Air Command).
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Deactivation: Fort Ritchie was recommended for closure under the 1995 Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) process and officially closed in 1998, ending over 70 years of military use.
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Military Legacy: The legacy of Fort Ritchie endures in the stories of the Ritchie Boys and the critical Cold War communications missions that helped ensure the continuity of U.S. military command and control.
