Michael E. Ryan
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 to September 2001. 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.
Michael E. Ryan | |
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Born | San Antonio, Texas, U.S. | December 24, 1941
Allegiance | United States |
Service/ | United States Air Force |
Years of service | 1965–2001 |
Rank | General |
Commands held | Chief of Staff of the United States Air Force Allied Air Forces Central Europe U.S. Air Forces in Europe 16th Air Force Allied Air Forces Southern Europe 432nd Tactical Fighter Wing 61st Tactical Fighter Squadron |
Battles/wars | Vietnam War Operation Deliberate Force |
Awards | Defense Distinguished Service Medal (3) Air Force Distinguished Service Medal (2) Army Distinguished Service Medal Navy Distinguished Service Medal Coast Guard Distinguished Service Medal Legion of Merit (3) Distinguished Flying Cross Full list |
Relations | General John Dale Ryan (father) |
Military career
Born in San Antonio, Texas in 1941,[1] 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
Other accoutrements | |
Command Air Force Pilot Badge | |
Office of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Identification Badge |
See also
References
- Nominations Before the Senate Armed Services Committee, First Session, 105th Congress: Hearings Before the Committee on Armed Services, United States Senate, One Hundred Fifth Congress, First Session, on Nominations of William S. Cohen; Federico F. Peǹa; Keith R. Hall; Gen. Wesley K. Clark, USA; Lt. Gen. Anthony C. Zinni, USMC; Rudy F. De Leon; John J. Hamre; Gen. Henry H. Shelton, USA; Gen. Michael e. Ryan, USAF; Adm. Harold W. Gehman, Jr., USN; Lt. Gen. Charles e. Wilhelm, USMC; Dr. Jacques S. Gansler; Lt. Gen. Peter J. Schoomaker, USA; Lt. Gen. John A. Gordon, USAF; Robert M. Walker; Jerry MacArthur Hultin; F. Whitten Peters; William J. Lynn III, January 22; February 5; March 6; July 9, 17, 24; September 9, 16; October 1, 23, 30; November 8, 1997. 1998. ISBN 9780160562556.
- "April". www.afa.org. Archived from the original on 10 February 2012. Retrieved 3 October 2016.
- "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.'" Archived 2014-03-05 at the Wayback Machine
- 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.
External links
Military offices | ||
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Preceded by Ronald R. Fogleman |
Chief of Staff of the United States Air Force 1997–2001 |
Succeeded by John P. Jumper |