The Air Force Medical Agency is responsible for the support and execution of medical readiness programs, expeditionary medical capabilities, and the direct support and implementation of policy, plans and programs for health care operations of the Air Force Medical Service to more than 44,000 personnel at 76 military treatment facilities.
As Chief Nurse of the Air Force, Ryder creates and evaluates policies and programs for 19,000 active-duty, Guard and Reserve nursing personnel. She interacts with Air Staff, Joint Staff, Department of Defense, Department of Veterans Affairs and civilian health care organizations to ensure the highest caliber of nursing care and personnel.[1]
Early life and education
Ryder, a Massachusetts native, is a graduate of Boston College, where she earned a Bachelor of Science degree in nursing. She earned her Master of Science in Human Relations from the University of Oklahoma, a Master of Arts and Science in Military Operations from the Air Command and Staff College, and a Master of Science in Strategic Studies from the Air War College.[2]
Ryder's military career began in 1991 in the Nurse Intern Program (Obstetrics) at Langley Air Force Base, VA. She served as clinical nurse in the Obstetrical Unit, 36th Medical Group, Bitburg Air Base, and 52nd Medical Group at Spangdahlem Air Base, Germany, followed by an assignment in the Obstetrical Unit, 55th Medical Operations Squadron, Offutt Air Force Base, Nebraska.[2]
She took on various leadership positions starting in 1996, to include deputy commander, Education and Training Flight at the 55th Medical Support Squadron; and director, Education and Training, and deputy director, Human Resources, 78th Medical Group at Robins Air Force Base, Georgia.
Ryder then served as nurse manager for the Primary Care Team and pediatric flight commander for the 436th Medical Operations Squadron, Dover Air Force Base, Delaware; and as deputy director, Communications Studies Course I, and executive officer to the Commandant at the Air Command and Staff College, Maxwell Air Force Base, Alabama. Ryder was then assigned to Kessler Air Force Base, Mississippi, where she served as the Maternal-Child Flight commander, 81st Inpatient Operations Squadron, followed by a deployment to Kabul, Afghanistan, as the executive officer/aide-de-camp, Combined Air Power Transition Force. Returning to Kessler Air Force Base, Ryder became the deputy commander, 81st Inpatient Operations Squadron and deputy chief nurse executive.[2]
In 2009, Ryder took command of the 75th Medical Operations Squadron, Hill Air Force Base, Utah, before taking a position as chief, Strategic Medical Plans Division, Air Force Medical Service Agency, Defense Health Headquarters, Falls Church, Virginia.[2]
Ryder also served as commander, 386th Expeditionary Medical Group, Southwest Asia; commander, 72nd Medical Group, Tinker Air Force Base, Oklahoma; commander, 81st Medical Group, Keesler Air Force Base; command surgeon, Headquarters Air Force Materiel Command, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio; and commander, 711th Human Performance Wing, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio.[2]
“I am humbled and honored to be provided the opportunity of this promotion and the ability of continued service in the Air Force,” Ryder said during her promotion ceremony. “I am fortunate to work with great Airmen and Medics and care for the most deserving patients in the world."[1]
Ryder took command of the 59th Medical Wing during a change of command ceremony at the Inter-American Air Forces Academy Auditorium, Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, April 29, 2021.[4] Ryder led the Air Force Medical Service's largest healthcare, medical education and readiness platform comprising six groups and 8,400 personnel. The wing provides 900,000 clinic visits, 18,000 surgical procedures, and greater than 300 worldwide deployments annually.[2]
Ryder assumed command of the Air Force Medical Agency in September 2023. On Dec. 5, 2023, Senate confirmed Ryder's nomination for the rank of major general.[5]
The Second Air Force is a USAF numbered air force responsible for conducting basic military and technical training for Air Force enlisted members and non-flying officers. In World War II the CONUS unit defended the Northwestern United States and Upper Great Plains regions and during the Cold War, was Strategic Air Command unit with strategic bombers and missiles. Elements of Second Air Force engaged in combat operations during the Korean War; Vietnam War, as well as Operation Desert Storm.
Keesler Air Force Base is a United States Air Force base located in Biloxi, a city along the Gulf Coast in Harrison County, Mississippi, United States. The base is named in honor of aviator 2d Lt Samuel Reeves Keesler Jr., a Mississippi native killed in France during the First World War. The base is home of Headquarters, Second Air Force and the 81st Training Wing of the Air Education and Training Command (AETC).
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The 59th Medical Wing (MDW) is the U.S. Air Force's largest medical wing and is the Air Force functional medical command for Joint Base San Antonio (JBSA). It comprises seven medical groups across San Antonio. Three are located at the Wilford Hall Ambulatory Surgical Center (WHASC); the 959th Medical Group is located at San Antonio Military Medical Center (SAMMC), JBSA-Fort Sam Houston; the 59th Training Group - the wing's newest group, activated on 4 January 2016, is also located at JBSA-Fort Sam Houston. The 359th and 559th Medical Groups are located at and support the missions of JBSA-Randolph and JBSA-Lackland, respectively.
Charles H. Roadman II was the 16th United States Air Force Surgeon General (1996–1999), Headquarters U.S. Air Force, Bolling Air Force Base, Washington, D.C. His father, Charles H. Roadman (1914–2000), was also an Air Force flight surgeon and command pilot.
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