William A. Ryan III

Last updated
William A. Ryan III
MG William A. Ryan III (2).jpg
Ryan as a major general in 2023
Born1972 (age 52–53)
Chicago, Illinois, US
Service United States Army
Years of service1994–Present
Rank Major General
Unit United States Army Aviation Branch
CommandsCompany A, 3rd Battalion, 101st Aviation Regiment
1st Battalion, 101st Aviation Regiment
16th Combat Aviation Brigade
First Army Division West
First Army
Wars Iraq War
War in Afghanistan
Awards Defense Superior Service Medal
Legion of Merit (4)
Distinguished Flying Cross
Bronze Star Medal (6)
Purple Heart
Alma mater United States Military Academy
Joint Advanced Warfighting School
National Defense University
Georgetown University
Spouse(s)
Lorry Ann Sykes
​
(m. 1999)​
Children2

William A. Ryan III (born 1972) is a career officer in the United States Army. A 1994 graduate of the United States Military Academy at West Point, he is an Aviation officer and a veteran of the Iraq War and the War in Afghanistan. Ryan attained the rank of major general as commander of First Army Division West in 2023 and served as interim commander of First Army in 2024. In 2025, Ryan was assigned as director of operations for United Nations Command and Republic of Korea/US Combined Forces Command. His major awards and decorations include the Defense Superior Service Medal, multiple awards of the Legion of Merit, and the Distinguished Flying Cross.

Contents

Early career

William A. Ryan III was born in Chicago in 1972, the son of Colonel and Mrs. William A. Ryan II. [1] [2] In 1990, he graduated from Lakes High School in Lakewood, Washington. [3] Ryan graduated from the United States Military Academy at West Point in 1994 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Mathematics and was commissioned as a second lieutenant of Aviation. [4]

After completion of the Aviation Officer Basic Course, Ryan's initial assignments with the 101st Airborne Division included attack platoon leader, liaison officer, and battalion personnel staff officer (S-1) for 2nd Battalion, 101st Aviation Regiment. [4] He then served as aide-de-camp to the commanding general of the United States Army Aviation Center of Excellence, after which he returned to the 101st Airborne Division to serve as a brigade S-1. [4] His next assignment was commander of Company A, 3rd Battalion, 101st Aviation Regiment. [4]

Family

In 1999, Ryan married Lorry Ann Sykes. [4] [3] They are the parents of son Liam and daughter Campbell. [4]

Continued career

Ryan as a colonel in 2018 William A. Ryan III (2).jpg
Ryan as a colonel in 2018

Ryan’s subsequent assignments included plans officer for the 101st Combat Aviation Brigade, and aviation assignments officer at the Human Resources Command. [4] He then returned to 3-101st Aviation, where he served as plans, operations, and training officer (S-3) and executive officer. [4] He subsequently served as aide-de-camp to Secretary of the Army Pete Geren, chief of plans, operations, and training – Aviation (G-3 Aviation) for the 101st Airborne Division, and deputy commander of the 101st Combat Aviation Brigade. [4] Ryan commanded 1st Battalion, 101st Aviation Regiment from 2011 to 2013. [4] From 2013 to 2014, he was assigned as senior aviation trainer at the Fort Irwin National Training Center. [4] From 2015 to 2018, Ryan commanded the 16th Combat Aviation Brigade. [4] He was then assigned as deputy commander of the Aviation Center of Excellence. [4]

Deployment history

Ryan’s deployment history includes Operation Enduring Freedom I (2002), X (2010-2011), and XII-XIII (2012-2013). [4] He is also a veteran of Operation Iraqi Freedom I (2003) and V-VII (2005-2006). [4] In addition, he served in Operation Resolute Support and Operation Freedom's Sentinel (2017, 2020–2021). [4] [5]

Military education

In addition to the Aviation Officer Basic Course, Ryan's military education includes: [4]

In addition to his military education, Ryan completed a master's degree in Policy Management at Georgetown University. [4]

Later career

First Army interim commander Ryan speaks in Normandy in 2024 Maj Gen William Ryan speaks at Hanger Ceremony (8492996).jpg
First Army interim commander Ryan speaks in Normandy in 2024

In 2019, Ryan was assigned as the 7th Infantry Division's deputy commander for support, and he was subsequently assigned as I Corps chief of staff. [5] From May 2020 to May 2021, he served as senior advisor to Afghanistan's Ministry of Defense, and he was promoted to brigadier general in October 2020. [6] From June to September 2021, he was assigned as a special assistant to the deputy commander of I Corps, and in October 2021 he took over as deputy commander. [6] From August 2023 to June 2025, Ryan was commander of First Army Division West, and he acted as commander of First Army on an interim basis in 2024. [6] He was promoted to major general in December 2023. [6] In July 2025, Ryan was assigned as director of operations for United Nations Command and Republic of Korea/US Combined Forces Command. [6]

Awards

Ryan’s major awards include: [4]

In addition to his army awards, Ryan is a recipient of the Army Aviation Association of America's Honorable Order of St. Michael (Silver). [4]

References

  1. ↑ "Obituary, William A. Ryan". Chicago Tribune. Chicago. 20 April 2001. p. Section 2, Page 23 – via Newspapers.com.
  2. ↑ "Biography, Maj. Gen. William A. Ryan III, Division West Commanding General". First.army.mil. Rock Island, Illinois: United States First Army. 10 April 2024. Archived from the original on 4 January 2025. Retrieved 19 September 2025.
  3. 1 2 "Engagement, Sykes–Ryan". The Stewart-Houston Times. Clarksville, Tennessee. 15 December 1998. p. A7 – via Newspapers.com.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 United States Army Aviation Center of Excellence (2018). "Biography, Colonel William A. Ryan III Deputy Commander" (PDF). AUSA.org. Washington, DC: Association of the United States Army. p. 19. Retrieved 19 September 2025.
  5. 1 2 I Corps (United States) (2023). "Biography, Brigadier General William A. Ryan III, Deputy Commanding General, I Corps" (PDF). NDU.edu. Washington, DC: National Defense University. p. 89. Retrieved 19 September 2025.
  6. 1 2 3 4 5 "Biography, Major General William A. Ryan III (USA)". GOMO.Army.mil. Washington, DC: U.S. Army General Officer Management Office. 2025. Retrieved 19 September 2025.
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