# Kurt J. Ryan

Major General Kurt J. Ryan is a retired General Officer from the United States Army and was the 20th Commanding General of the United States Army Surface Deployment and Distribution Command. Previously, he served as the 39th Chief of Ordnance for the U.S. Army Ordnance Corps and Commandant of the United States Army Ordnance School at Fort Lee, Virginia. Major General Ryan served as the Deputy Chief of Staff, G-4 (Logistics) for U.S. Army Forces Command, Fort Bragg, North Carolina from March 2018 to June 2021.

## Military education

Ryan received a Bachelor Degree from York College in Pennsylvania and was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in the Ordnance Corps in 1987. He is a graduate of the Combined Logistics Officer Advanced Course, the Logistics Executive Development Course, the Command and General Staff College, and the United States Army War College.

## Military career

MG Ryan has participated in numerous operations in defense of freedom and liberty. Most notably, he deployed to the first Gulf War in Kuwait and Iraq (1990-1991); served in Germany (1992-1996); participated in peace enforcement operations in Bosnia and Croatia (1996); participated in the campaign to liberate Iraq (2003); assisted in the rescue, relief, and recovery of American citizens in New Orleans following Hurricane Katrina and Hurricane Rita (2005); served in Afghanistan with a Combined Joint Task Force 82 (CJTF-82) and NATO International Security and Assistance Force (ISAF) (2007-2008), and returned for a short deployment to Afghanistan and Kuwait with the 1st Sustainment Command (TSC), Theater and the 143rd Sustainment Command (Expeditionary) (2009). His last service in Afghanistan (2011–12) was as Commander, 10th Sustainment Brigade, headquartered in Bagram. He subsequently served the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Logistics and Material Readiness in the Office of the Secretary of Defense (2012–13). He was also the Commanding General for the 593rd Expeditionary Sustainment Command (2013–15). He served as the 39th Chief of Ordnance and the United States Army Ordnance School Commandant at Fort Lee, Virginia (2015–16).
On June 16, 2016, Major General Kurt J. Ryan became the 20th commanding general of the United States Army's Military Surface Deployment and Distribution Command.
MG Ryan spent the majority of his career in tactical formations, twice serving as a Paratrooper in the 82nd Airborne Division, two tours with the 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault), a tour in Germany with the 1st Armored Division, and duty in with the 10th Mountain Division, (Light Infantry). He commanded on five occasions; as a company commander in the 1st Armored Division, as a battalion commander in the 82nd Airborne Division, as a Sustainment Brigade Commander in support of the 10th Mountain Division (Light Infantry), as the Commander of the 593rd Sustainment Command (Expeditionary), and as the 39th Chief of Ordnance and Ordnance School Commandant.

## Awards and decorations

* Combat Action Badge
* Air Assault Badge
* Ranger tab
* Master Parachutist Badge
* Army Staff Identification Badge
* 82nd Airborne Division Combat Service Identification Badge
* British Parachutist Badge
* Army Ordnance Corps Distinctive Unit Insignia
* 6 Overseas Service Bars
* Legion of Merit with one bronze oak leaf cluster
* Bronze Star Medal with oak leaf cluster
* Defense Meritorious Service Medal with oak leaf cluster
* Meritorious Service Medal with silver oak leaf cluster
* Army Commendation Medal with four oak leaf clusters
* Joint Service Achievement Medal
* Army Achievement Medal with two oak leaf clusters
* Joint Meritorious Unit Award
* Meritorious Unit Commendation with oak leaf cluster
* Superior Unit Award
* National Defense Service Medal with one bronze service star
* Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal
* Southwest Asia Service Medal with two service stars
* Afghanistan Campaign Medal with two service stars
* Iraq Campaign Medal with service star
* Global War on Terrorism Service Medal
* Armed Forces Service Medal
* Humanitarian Service Medal with service star
* Army Service Ribbon
* Army Overseas Service Ribbon with bronze award numeral 7
* NATO Medal for the former Yugoslavia with service star
* Kuwait Liberation Medal (Saudi Arabia)
* Kuwait Liberation Medal (Kuwait)