Michael E. Ryan

Gen. Micheal E. Ryan United States Air Force
Michael Ryan General Michael E. Ryan
Allegiance	United States of America
Service / branch	United States Air Force
Years of service	1965–2001
Rank	General
Commands	61st Tactical Fighter Squadron 432nd Tactical Fighter Wing Allied Air Forces Southern Europe 16th Air Force U.S. Air Forces in Europe<brAllied Air Forces Central Europe Chief of Staff of the United States Air Force
Awards	Defense Distinguished Service Medal with two oak leaf clusters Air Force Distinguished Service Medal with oak leaf cluster Army Distinguished Service Medal Navy Distinguished Service Medal Coast Guard Distinguished Service Medal Legion of Merit with two oak leaf clusters Distinguished Flying Cross Meritorious Service Medal with two oak leaf clusters Air Medal with 15 oak leaf clusters Air Force Commendation Medal with two oak leaf clusters

General Michael E. Ryan was Chief of Staff of the United States Air Force. He served as the senior uniformed Air Force officer responsible for the organization, training and equipage of 700,000 active-duty, Guard, Reserve and civilian forces serving in the United States and overseas. As a member of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, he and the other service chiefs functioned as military advisers to the Secretary of Defense, National Security Council and the president.

Ryan entered the U.S. Air Force after graduating from the United States Air Force Academy in 1965. He has commanded at the squadron, wing, numbered air force and major command levels. He flew combat in Southeast Asia, including 100 missions over North Vietnam. He also served in staff assignments at the major command level, Headquarters U.S. Air Force and the Joint Staff. As Commander of Sixteenth Air Force and Allied Air Forces Southern Europe in Italy, he directed the NATO air combat operations in Bosnia-Herzegovina which directly contributed to the Dayton Peace Accords.

Before assuming the Chief of Staff position, Ryan was Commander of U.S. Air Forces in Europe and Commander, Allied Air Forces Central Europe, with headquarters at Ramstein Air Base, Germany.

Ryan's father, General John Dale Ryan, was Chief of Staff of the United States Air Force from 1969 to 1973.

Ryan retired from the U.S. Air Force on October 1, 2001.

Popular Culture

• Appeared as himself in the Stargate SG-1 episode Prodigy.

References

• Bio based on http://www.af.mil/bios/bio.asp?bioID=7007