Ted Triebel was born in November 1941 in the Panama Canal Zone. He entered the U.S. Naval Academy on July 5, 1960, and was commissioned an Ensign in the U.S. Navy on June 3, 1964. Ens Triebel next attended flight training and was designated a Naval Aviator in January 1966, followed by F-4 Phantom II Replacement Air Group (RAG) training with VF-121 at NAS Miramar, California, from January to July 1966. He served as an F-4B pilot with VF-213 at NAS Miramar and deployed aboard the aircraft carrier USS Kitty Hawk (CVA-63) from July 1966 to August 1968, and during this time he flew combat missions in Southeast Asia from December 1966 to May 1967, and from December 1967 to May 1968. LT Triebel's next assignment was as an F-4D pilot, Plans and Targets Officer, and as an Instructor Pilot while serving as an exchange officer with the U.S. Air Force's 8th Tactical Fighter Squadron of the 49th Tactical Fighter Wing at Holloman AFB, New Mexico, and on deployments to West Germany in support of NATO contingency plans, from August 1968 to August 1970. He attended F-4 RAG training with VF-121 at NAS Miramar from August to November 1970, and then served as an F-4B pilot with VF-151 at NAS Miramar, California, from November 1970 to April 1971 and October 1971 to May 1972, and deployed aboard the aircraft carrier USS Midway (CV-41) from May to October 1971, and from May 1972 until he was forced to eject over North Vietnam and was taken as a Prisoner of War on August 27, 1972. After spending 215 days in captivity, LCDR Triebel was released during Operation Homecoming on March 29, 1973. He was briefly hospitalized to recover from his injuries, and then received an assignment to complete his master's degree at the University of Washington in Seattle from August 1973 to June 1975. He served as Maintenance Officer and as an Instructor Pilot with the F-4 Fleet Replacement Squadron, VF-101, at NAS Oceana, Virginia, from July 1975 to August 1977, and then as Executive Officer and as an Instructor Pilot with VF-171 at NAS Oceana from August to October 1977. His next assignment was as Aide to the Chief of Naval Material in the Pentagon from October 1977 to August 1978, followed by service as a National Security Policy Officer in the Plans and Policy Division with the Office of the Chief of Naval Operations in the Pentagon from August 1978 to February 1979. CDR Triebel attended F-4 refresher training with VF-171 at NAS Oceana, Virginia, from February to July 1979, and then served as Executive Officer and then Commanding Officer of VF-103 at NAS Oceana from July 1979 to May 1982. During this time he deployed with his squadron aboard the aircraft carriers USS Saratoga (CV-60) and USS Forrestal (CV-59). He then served as Air Officer (Air Boss) aboard the aircraft carrier USS Nimitz (CVN-68) from June 1982 to May 1983, and as Shipyard Coordinator for the Nimitz during her overhaul at Newport News, Virginia, from June 1983 to July 1984. CAPT Triebel next attended the Industrial College of the Armed Forces from September 1984 to June 1985, followed by service as Head of the Western Hemisphere Plans and Policy Branch with the Politico-Military Policy and Current Plans Division in the Office of the Chief of Naval Operations at the Pentagon from July 1985 to June 1986. He served as Commanding Officer of Naval Support Facility Diego Garcia in the Indian Ocean from September 1986 to July 1987, and then served as Commanding Officer and Professor of Naval Science at the Naval ROTC program at Duke University and the University of North Carolina from August 1987 to May 1992. His final assignment was as Chief of Staff of the U.S. Naval Academy from June 1992 until his retirement from the Navy on August 1, 1993. Ted is married to the former Cara Lee Reiniger of Dayton, Ohio.

His Distinguished Flying Cross Citation reads:

For heroism and extraordinary achievement while participating in aerial flight as Pilot of a jet aircraft attached to Fighter Squadron TWO HUNDRED THIRTEEN, embarked in USS KITTY HAWK (CVA 63) while conducting a major strike on the North Vietnamese fighter base at Kep, North Vietnam on 24 April 1967. As a wingman in a five plane F4 strike element, Lieutenant (junior grade) TRIEBEL penetrated 85miles into hostile territory to the target, opposed by numerous active surface-to-air missile sites and by extremely intense and accurate anti-aircraft artillery fire of all calibers. Skillfully maneuvering his aircraft to evade missiles and anti-aircraft fire, Lieutenant (junior grade) TRIEBEL maintained his station in the flight and positioned himself for his dive bombing run. As he neared the top of his run his aircraft was hit by anti-aircraft fire and his vigorous evasive maneuver put him in a poor dive entry position. Displaying exceptional presence and determination, Lieutenant (junior grade) TRIEBEL made a 360 degree turn in the midst of the barrage in order to reposition himself, and then executed a perfect attack, delivering a smothering pattern of fragmentation bomblets over the revetted aircraft parking areas and apron northeast of the runway, destroying aircraft and ground support equipment parked there. Lieutenant (junior grade) TRIEBEL's professional skill and courageous tenacity in the face of grave personal danger were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.