Colonel Hill attended Virginia Tech, earning a Bachelor of Science and a Master of Science in Dairy Technology. As a ROTC Distinguished Military Graduate, he was commissioned a Second Lieutenant in the Infantry Corps.  Later, Colonel Hill branch transferred to Quartermaster Branch and was appointed Regular Army status.  With the exception of a 2-year assignment as an ROTC Instructor at Western Michigan University, Colonel Hill served entirely in Quartermaster Branch assignments. He is a graduate of the Quartermaster Officer Basic and the Advanced Course, the Command and General Staff College and the Army War College. Colonel Ralph Hill culminated his US Army career of nearly 30 years while serving as the G-4, 3rd Army, Fort McPherson, GA, which immediately followed his service as the Deputy G-4, US Army Central Command, Desert Storm, Saudi Arabia. While assigned to the Quartermaster School, he served as the Director, Enlisted Supply Department responsible for all supply training worldwide at a time when the Army supply systems from company to division levels were being upgraded through the fielding of the Standard Army Retail Supply System.  Additionally, Colonel Hill also served as the Director, Combat Developments Department.  His command tours included Eagle Support Brigade, Fort Campbell; the Logistics Battalion, Peacekeeping Force, Sinai, Egypt, the 561st Supply and Service Battalion, Fort Campbell and 501st Supply Company, 101st Division Support Command.   In Vietnam, Colonel Hill served as the Assistant Division Supply Officer, 4th Supply and Transport Battalion, 4^th Infantry Division and Petroleum Staff Officer, US Army Headquarters. 

His numerous awards include Legion of Merit with two oak leaf clusters: Bronze Star Metal with oak leaf cluster, Meritorious Service Medal with oak leaf cluster, the Joint Service Commendation Medal and the Army Commendation Medal with oak leaf cluster, the Airborne Badge and the Air Assault Badge.