Michael E. Ryan
Michael E. Ryan | |
|---|---|
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| Born | December 24, 1941 |
| Allegiance |  United States of America |
| Service |  United States Air Force |
| Years of service | 1965–2001 |
| Rank |  General |
| Commands | 61st Tactical Fighter Squadron 432nd Tactical Fighter Wing |
| Awards | See below |
Michael E. Ryan (born December 24, 1941) is a retired United States Air Force general and was the 16th Chief of Staff of the United States Air Force from October 1997 - September 2001.[1] 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.
Military career
Ryan entered the U.S. Air Force after graduating from the United States Air Force Academy in 1965; he was a graduate of Omaha Creighton Prep High School. 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.
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. As Commander of Sixteenth Air Force and Allied Air Forces Southern Europe in Italy, he directed the NATO air combat operations in Bosnia-Herzegovina, including the bombing missions of Operation Deliberate Force, which created the context for the U.S. to broker the Dayton Peace Accords between the parties in conflict. Ryan personally approved every NATO target during the two-week Operation Deliberate Force campaign.[2]
Ryan's father, General John Dale Ryan, was the 7th 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
- Ryan appeared as himself in the Stargate SG-1 episode "Prodigy".[3] Richard Dean Anderson later recalled asking the general during filming if he had subordinates as irreverent as Anderson's character Jack O'Neill. Ryan replied, "Son, yes, we've got colonels like you and worse."[4]
Awards and decorations
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References
- ^ "General Michael E. Ryan". Air Force Link. Archived from the original on 2012-12-12. Retrieved 2009-03-13.
- ^ http://www.afa.org/media/reports/april.asp
- ^ [1] "The general, a science-fiction fan, said he agreed to guest-star on Stargate SG-1 because, 'The ideas that come out of science fiction are often more science than fiction.'"
- ^ Richard Dean Anderson (actor) (4 October 2005). "SG-1 Beyond the Gate: An Air Force Experience with Richard Dean Anderson". Stargate SG-1 (season 8) (DVD). Metro Goldwyn Mayer.
- Bio based on USAF Biography
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| International | |
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| National | |
- 1941 births
- Living people
- United States Air Force Academy alumni
- Chiefs of Staff of the United States Air Force
- Recipients of the Legion of Merit
- Order of National Security Merit members
- Grand Cordons of the Order of the Rising Sun
- Knights Grand Cross of the Order of the Crown of Thailand
- Knight Commanders of the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany
- Officers of the SICOFAA Legion of Merit
- Grand Crosses of Aeronautical Merit
- Recipients of the Pingat Jasa Gemilang (Tentera)
- Recipients of the Order of Aeronautical Merit (Brazil)
- Commandeurs of the Légion d'honneur
- Recipients of the Air Force Distinguished Service Medal
- Recipients of the Air Medal
- Recipients of the Coast Guard Distinguished Service Medal
- Recipients of the Defense Distinguished Service Medal
- Recipients of the Distinguished Flying Cross (United States)
- Recipients of the Distinguished Service Medal (United States)
- Recipients of the Navy Distinguished Service Medal
- Commanders of the Order of Orange-Nassau
- Recipients of the Order of the Sacred Treasure
- Recipients of the Order of the Sword (United States)