William A. Ryan III

William Aloysius Ryan III^[1] was born in Chicago^[2] in 1972,^[3] the son of Colonel and Mrs. William A. Ryan II.^[4] In 1990, he graduated from Lakes High School in Lakewood, Washington.^[1][5] Ryan graduated from the United States Military Academy at West Point in 1994 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Mathematics and was commissioned as a second lieutenant of Aviation.^[6]

After completion of the Aviation Officer Basic Course, Ryan's initial assignments with the 101st Airborne Division included attack platoon leader, liaison officer, and battalion personnel staff officer (S-1) for 2nd Battalion, 101st Aviation Regiment.^[6] He then served as aide-de-camp to the commanding general of the United States Army Aviation Center of Excellence, after which he returned to the 101st Airborne Division to serve as a brigade S-1.^[6] His next assignment was commander of Company A, 3rd Battalion, 101st Aviation Regiment.^[6]

In 1999, Ryan married Lorry Ann Sykes.^[6][5] They are the parents of son Liam and daughter Campbell.^[6]

Ryan's subsequent assignments included plans officer for the 101st Combat Aviation Brigade, and aviation assignments officer at the Human Resources Command.^[6] He then returned to 3-101st Aviation, where he served as plans, operations, and training officer (S-3) and executive officer.^[6] He subsequently served as aide-de-camp to Secretary of the Army Pete Geren, chief of plans, operations, and training – Aviation (G-3 Aviation) for the 101st Airborne Division, and deputy commander of the 101st Combat Aviation Brigade.^[6] Ryan commanded 1st Battalion, 101st Aviation Regiment from 2011 to 2013.^[6] From 2013 to 2014, he was assigned as senior aviation trainer at the Fort Irwin National Training Center.^[6] From 2015 to 2018, Ryan commanded the 16th Combat Aviation Brigade.^[6] He was then assigned as deputy commander of the Aviation Center of Excellence.^[6]

Ryan's deployment history includes Operation Enduring Freedom I (2002), X (2010–2011), and XII-XIII (2012–2013).^[6] He is also a veteran of Operation Iraqi Freedom I (2003) and V-VII (2005–2006).^[6] In addition, he served in Operation Resolute Support and Operation Freedom's Sentinel (2017, 2020–2021).^[6][7]

In addition to the Aviation Officer Basic Course, Ryan's military education includes:^[6]

• Armor Officer Advanced Course
• Combined Arms and Services Staff School, United States Army Command and General Staff College
• Joint Advanced Warfighting School, Joint Forces Staff College
• Army War College Fellow, Stanford University
• National Defense University, master's degree in Campaign Planning and National Security Strategy

In addition to his military education, Ryan completed a master's degree in Policy Management at Georgetown University.^[6]