Pioneering Qualifications
In an effort to help soldiers deal with sexual dysfunction, often needed in marital therapy, Ronald Aldridge, PhD, MSW, became the military's first National Certified Sex Therapist (AASECT). The exposure gained from this certification led to military funding of his doctorate program at Michigan State University.
Aldridge also created and managed the first sex offender treatment program at the military's maximum security penitentiary in Leavenworth, Kansas. The program produced previously unknown findings, especially in the area of child molestation that led to evidenced-based intervention used to treat people with sexual offences.
Career Highlights
He retired in 2013 from his position as Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Health Services of North Texas in Denton, Texas. He is now actively involved on five nonprofit Boards of Directors. In the early years of his social work career, Aldridge, as he is known in Austin, spent 20 years in the U.S. Army, retiring as a Lieutenant Colonel. His innovations included helping set up the military's first Correctional Training Facility, which worked with AWOL soldiers who went AWOL during the Viet Nam war - most, during Basic Training. Before this facility was created, 3-5% returned to duty; afterwards, 89% returned.
Aldridge met with Capitol Hill leadership to address the growing drug and alcohol problems in Europe in the 1970s. His recommendations were accepted and adopted throughout Europe, to establish alcohol and drug prevention and control offices in every major garrison city manned by medical staff and social workers.
In response to the AIDS pandemic in the mid-1980s, Aldridge initiated the first counseling program for families dealing with AIDS in the military. Now, in retirement, he is recognized in the nonprofit arena as a leader and advocate for access to community services: for example, as CEO of the Dallas Child Guidance Clinic and as CEO of the AIDS Services of North Texas agency which grew into a multi-location federally-qualified health center called Health Services of North Texas, serving 8,500-plus in need of healthcare, regardless of their ability to pay.
Biographical Data
Aldridge received his bachelor's and master's degrees in social work, as well as his PhD from Michigan State University. He has taught social work practice to BSWs at Texas Woman's University, University of North Texas and "Social Work in Corrections" at New Mexico State University, Las Cruces, New Mexico.
In addition to his leadership as CEO of the AIDS Services of North Texas since 2000, Aldridge was Deputy Director of the Community Council of Greater Dallas, Executive Director of Child and Family Guidance Centers in Dallas, and Director of Mental Health at the U.S. Disciplinary Barracks in Leavenworth, Kansas. He also was Chief of Social Work Service in three locations: the William Beaumont Army Medical Center in El Paso, Dewitt Army Hospital in Fort Belvoir, Virginia, and the Third Infantry Division, Wurzburg, Germany. Specific to NASW, Aldridge was Vice President of the Texas State Chapter; President of the El Paso Unit; National Delegate Assembly; and Dallas Unit Co-Chair.
Significant Achievements and Awards
Aldridge was State of Texas Social Worker of the Year in 2004, representing NASW Texas Chapter, as well as NASW Social Worker of the Year in 2004 and 1997 representing Denton and Dallas. In 2011, Aldridge received the State of Texas Lifetime Achievement in Social Work award from NASW Texas Chapter. In 2013 he received the Lifetime Award for Contributions to Social Work Education from Texas Woman's University.
Both the Child and Family Guidance Centers in Dallas and the Health Services of North Texas agency in Denton made Dr. Aldridge a Life Member. He received both "Conquistador" and "Admiral in the El Paso Navy" awards, El Paso's highest awards given for service to youth. In the U.S. Army, he was given The Legion of Merit medal, two Meritorious Service medals, and two Army Commendation medals. An award Dr. Aldridge is most proud of is the National Eagle Scout Association's "Outstanding Eagle Scout Award" which he received in 2015.
Significant Publications
- Sexuality in Clinical Practice: A Continuing Medical Education Program for Family Practice Physicians. PhD dissertation, Department of Administration and Higher Education, Michigan State University, 1980.
- Social and Psychological Characteristcs of Rapists and Rape. Monograph prepared for the U.S. Surgeon General, November 1983.
- "Gang Intervention: Main Street, U.S.A." in National Field Study on Gangs and Gang Violence, U.S. Department of Justice, 1991.
- "Co-Corrections," Corrective and Social Psychiatry and Journal of Behavior Technology Methods and Therapy, Vol. 34, No. 4, 1989.