Richard Ryan

About Richard Ryan

Over the course of my career in the United States Air Force, I progressed from a maintenance technician on the flight line to leading enterprise-level strategy, sustainment, and product improvement initiatives with global impact. I’ve built a reputation for balancing operational precision with strategic foresight, understanding that behind every number, every metric, and every process is a story. The key to success lies in listening to those stories, identifying what’s working, what isn’t, and taking decisive, informed action. I believe in a waterfall approach to leadership, mentorship, and organizational growth — when you develop strong leaders, empower supervisors with consistent, standardized training, and instill a culture of excellence, the results cascade across the entire enterprise. Like a waterfall, meaningful progress is made through countless individual contributions working in concert toward a shared goal.Time and again, I’ve been called upon to turn around underperforming teams, fix broken processes, and drive lasting operational improvement. My leadership philosophy is rooted in discipline, accountability, and a refusal to “wing it.” By diagnosing where systems fail, creating scalable, repeatable standards, and empowering teams through mentorship and clarity, I’ve consistently delivered measurable results.I’m eager to bring this mindset and expertise to new challenges — building strong leaders, optimizing processes, and helping organizations achieve operational excellence.Let’s connect. I welcome opportunities to collaborate with forward-thinking leaders and organizations where I can contribute meaningful, lasting value. You can reach me at r••••••••@gmail.com.

Experience

1. C-17 Program Management Specialist

   KBR, Inc.

   Sep 2025 — Present

Education

• Ashford University

  Bachelor of Arts (BA), Organizational Leadership

  2011 — 2012

• Community College of the Air Force

  Associates in Aerospace Maintenance Technology, Aeronautics/Aviation/Aerospace Science and Technology, General

  2000 — 2002

• Webster University

  Master of Arts (M.A.), Management and Leadership