Army Brig. Gen. Robert K. Ryan, outgoing commander of the District of Columbia National Guard’s (DCNG) Land Component Command (LCC), retires after more than 35 years of military service.
Ryan assumed command of the DCNG LCC on March 2, 2018, where he was responsible for the strategic leadership and mission readiness of eight subordinate commands within the Nation’s capital. He was concurrently the commander of Joint Task Force – District of Columbia and was responsible for domestic operations in support of civil authorities.
Ryan was known for being a Soldier first and reminding Soldiers of their excellence. During his clap out ceremony, Ryan encouraged Soldiers of the DCNG.
“Make no mistake, you are elite.…,” Ryan said. “You’re a Capital Guardian. You’re in the District of Columbia National Guard. You’ve been in the arena when others have not. I will forever be a Soldier for life – I trust you will be too.”
Ryan is a graduate from the Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (ROTC) at Gettysburg College, in Gettysburg, Pa. where he earned a bachelor’s in management. Ryan also earned a master’s in security strategy from the U.S. Army War College in Carlisle, Pa.
Ryan’s command of the DCNG LCC was his second general officer-level command. As a colonel, he commanded the Multi-Agency Augmentation Command, a brigadier general-level, multi-state command. Ryan held command or staff positions in platoon through echelons-above-corps sized units. He is an intelligence officer with an information operations functional area; one of the first Army National Guard joint qualified officers; and a dual status command qualified officer.
His career highlights include a June 2007 deployment to Baghdad, Iraq, with the historic 116th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 29th Infantry Division, during the surge campaign in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom.
In June 2020, Ryan commanded JTF-DC wherein he led 5,530 joint-service members from 12 states and the District during Operation Capital Guardian in support of national and District emergencies. In January 2021, Ryan again commanded JTF-DC and led 25,711 joint-service members from 50 states, three territories, and the District during Operation 59th Presidential Inauguration Support and Operation Capitol Response.
Ryan’s awards include the Combat Action Badge, Legion of Merit, Bronze Star Medal, and other Federal awards. As an Army National Guard officer, he also earned eleven state military awards from five states.
Ryan is married to Tammy, his spouse of more than 33 years. They have three sons – Patrick, a certified public accountant; Kevin, an active-duty U.S. Army officer; and Collin, a certified public account.
| Date Taken: | 12.11.2022 |
| Date Posted: | 12.12.2022 20:38 |
| Story ID: | 434932 |
| Location: | WASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, US |
| Web Views: | 556 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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