English: Col. Thomas Ridgway briefly commanded the Hawaiian Department for a month during 1919. Born in 1861 in New York, he was father to Matthew Ridgway, who became a notable general during World War II and the Korean War. He graduated from the U.S. Military Academy in 1883 and received a commission in the Artillery. Ridgway served in various artillery assignments in California and Kansas before he transferred to the eastern United States in 1898. He eventually went to the Coast Artillery Corps and in 1912, he received a promotion to colonel of the Coast Artillery. He commanded the Coast Defenses of Pensacola, Florida, and later of Boston, Massachusetts. Prior to his short tenure as Hawaiian Department commander, Ridgway served as the commander for Coast Defenses of Oahu from March to September 1919. Thomas Ridgway retired as a colonel on 28 October 1919 after over 40 years of service. Col. Thomas Ridgway briefly commanded the Hawaiian Department for a month during 1919. Born in 1861 in New York, he was father to Matthew Ridgway, who became a notable general during World War II and the Korean War. He graduated from the U.S. Military Academy in 1883 and received a commission in the Artillery. Ridgway served in various artillery assignments in California and Kansas before he transferred to the eastern United States in 1898. He eventually went to the Coast Artillery Corps and in 1912, he received a promotion to colonel of the Coast Artillery. He commanded the Coast Defenses of Pensacola, Florida, and later of Boston, Massachusetts. Prior to his short tenure as Hawaiian Department commander, Ridgway served as the commander for Coast Defenses of Oahu from March to September 1919. Thomas Ridgway retired as a colonel on 28 October 1919 after over 40 years of service.