Architect, Naramore, Bain, Brady and Johanson (NBBJ), Architects, c. 1986-Seattle, WA; Architect, Interior Architects (IA), Seattle, WA, c. 2010-present;

B.A., Saint Olaf College, Northfield, MN; M.Arch., University of Washington, Seattle, WA;

His father, Reidar Dittmann, Sr., (1922-2010) was born in Norway and became a renowned Professor of Art and Norwegian Studies (1947-1993) and the first Director of International Studies at Saint Olaf College, Northfield, MN; During World War II, Dittmann, Sr., was arrested on three occasions in Norway and finally shipped by the Nazis to the Buchenwald Concentration Camp in 1942 where he was detained for 30 months. His release was obtained by the Swedes, and he ultimately made his way to the US, where he became a Professor at Saint Olaf. Dittman, Sr., married Chrisma Skoien of Chippewa Falls, WI; their first two years together were spent as teachers in an Ethiopian High School; Reidar, Jr., was born there; three other children were born in the US: Rolf, Kristin and Solveig Dittmann.

While studying music, Dittmann met and married Chrisma Skoien of Chippewa Falls, Wis. The couple spent two years teaching high school in Ethiopia, where their oldest son, Reidar Jr., was born.