BRIGADIER GENERAL SHAWN G. RYAN
Retired
Brig. Gen. Shawn G. Ryan served as the Assistant Adjutant General – Air and Commander of the Colorado Air National Guard. He commanded the mission readiness and operational effectiveness of over 1700 military personnel serving at four locations. He also directed the development of operationally trained, equipped and mission ready forces in support of national defense requirements and emergency response, relief, and recovery operations throughout Colorado.
General Ryan was commissioned a Second Lieutenant in 1990 after graduation from the United States Air Force Academy. He served nine years on active duty as an Instructor and Evaluator Pilot in both the KC-135 and C-21. General Ryan joined the COANG in 1999 as a Traditional Guardsman and has commanded at the squadron, group and headquarters level. As executive officer for the National Guard Assistant to the Commander of United States Northern Command, General Ryan contributed to the relief efforts following hurricanes Katrina and Rita. As commander, he led the 200th Airlift Squadron to four straight Small Unit of the Year Awards. General Ryan is a command pilot with more than 5300 hours in the KC-135, C-12, and C-21. He is a veteran of several overseas operations, including NORTHERN WATCH, PROVIDE COMFORT and SOUTHERN WATCH. Prior to his former assignment, General Ryan served as the Colorado State Director of Operations/A3.
EDUCATION
1990 Bachelor of Science in Physics, United States Air Force Academy, USAF Academy, Colorado
1997 Squadron Officer School, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
2004 Air Command and Staff College (ACSC), by correspondence
2005 Advanced Instrument School, Tinker AFB, Okla.
2016 Air War College, by correspondence
ASSIGNMENTS
1. July 1990 - July 1991, Student, Undergraduate Pilot Training, Vance Air Force Base, Okla.
2. July 1991 - July 1993, Pilot, KC-135R, Grissom AFB, Ind.
3. July 1993 - June 1997, Evaluator Pilot, KC-135R, Fairchild AFB, Wash.
4. June 1997 - September 1999, Evaluator Pilot, C-21A, 84th Airlift Flight, Peterson AFB, Colo.
5. October 1999 - March 2013, C-21 Pilot, 200th Airlift Squadron, Peterson AFB, Colo.
6. March 2013 - October 2016, Commander, 200th Airlift Squadron, Peterson AFB, Colo.
7. November 2016 - June 2020, Commander, 140th Mission Support Group, Buckley AFB, Colo.
8. June 2020 - May 2021, Director of Operations, Colorado Air National Guard, Buckley AFB, Colo.
9. May 2021 - February 2023, Assistant Adjutant General-Air and Commander, Colorado Air National Guard, Buckley Space Force Base, Aurora, Colo.
FLIGHT INFORMATION
Rating: Command Pilot
Flight hours: more than 5300, including 83 combat
Aircraft flown: T-37, T-38, KC-135R/T, C-12F and C-21A
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Legion of Merit
Defense Meritorious Service Medal
Meritorious Service Medal with three oak leaf clusters
Air Medal
Aerial Achievement Medal
Air Force Commendation Medal with oak leaf cluster
Air Force Achievement Medal
EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION
Second Lieutenant May 30, 1990
First Lieutenant May 30, 1992
Captain May 30, 1994
Major May 30, 2001
Lieutenant Colonel May 30, 2008
Colonel July 11, 2017
Brigadier General Feb. 17, 2022
(Current as of September 2024)
