Chief Master Sergeant Kevin W. Ryan, Jr., is the Senior Enlisted Leader, Space Systems Command (SSC), Los Angeles Air Force Base, Calif. In this capacity, Chief Ryan serves as the Senior Enlisted Leader to the SSC Commander where he advises on all matters of professional development, work force utilization, military readiness, morale, welfare, and mission effectiveness of over 15,000 personnel assigned to 20+ geographically dispersed units.
Chief Ryan enlisted in the United States Air Force from his hometown of Gettysburg, Pennsylvania in August 2002; he later transferred into the United States Space Force in September 2020. His background includes various duties in satellite command and control, Ground-based and Space-based missile warning, training and evaluations, and Air Operations Center positions. He has been stationed in Colorado, Greenland, California, and Virginia.
Prior to assuming his current leadership position, Chief Ryan served as the Command Senior Enlisted Leader, National Reconnaissance Office (NRO), Chantilly, Virginia.
EDUCATION
2006 Airman Leadership School, Peterson Air Force Base, Colo.
2007 Ballistic Missile Early Warning System (BMEWS), Vandenberg AFB, Calif.
2007 Associate in Applied Science, Air and Space Operations Technology, Community College of the Air Force (CCAF), Maxwell AFB, Ala.
2010 Associate in Applied Science, Instructor of Technology and Military Science, CCAF, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
2011 Instructor Level II Certificate, CCAF, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
2012 Noncommissioned Officer Academy, JBSA-Lackland AFB, Texas
2013 Professional Manager Certification, CCAF, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
2018 Bachelor of Science, Technical Management & Logistics, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, Daytona Beach, Fla.
2018 Senior Noncommissioned Officer Academy, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
2020 Project Management Professional Certification, Project Management Institute, Newton Square, Pa.
2022 Enterprise Leadership Seminar, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, N.C.
2024 Master of Science, Project Management, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, Daytona Beach, Fla.
2026 Enterprise Perspective Seminar, Alan L. Freed Associates, Washington, D.C.
ASSIGNMENTS
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August 2002 - October 2002, Student, Basic Military Trainee, 321st Training Squadron, AFB, Texas
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October 2002 - December 2002, Student, 534th Training Squadron, Vandenberg AFB, Calif.
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January 2003 - April 2004, Satellite System Operator, 2nd Space Operations Squadron, 50th Space Wing, Schriever AFB, Colo.
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April 2004 -September 2005, Satellite System Operator Instructor, 50th Operations Support Squadron, Schriever AFB, Colo.
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September 2005 - April 2007, GPS Spacecraft Systems Specialist, 2nd Space Operations Squadron,50th Space Wing, Schriever AFB, Colo.
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April 2007 - December 2007, Mission Chief, 2nd Space Operations Squadron, 50th Space Wing, Schriever AFB, Colo.
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December 2007 - December 2008, Missile Warning Crew Chief, 12th Space Warning Squadron, Thule Air Base, Greenland
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January 2009 - November 2011, Ground Based Training Instructor, 533rd Training Squadron, Vandenberg AFB, Calif.
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November 2011 - April 2013, NCOIC Training Assessment Element, 381st Training Group, Vandenberg AFB, Calif.
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April 2013 - January 2016, NCOIC Master Space Plan Team, 614th Air Operations Center, Vandenberg AFB, Calif.
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January 2016 - July 2016, Superintendent Strategy Plans Division, 614th Air Operations Center, Vandenberg AFB, Calif.
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July 2016 - October 2017, Flight Chief, 2nd Space Warning Squadron, Buckley AFB, Colo.
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October 2017 - January 2019, Flight Chief, 460th Operations Support Squadron, Buckley AFB, Colo.
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January 2019 – August 2020, Superintendent, 11th Space Warning, Buckley AFB, Colo 15.
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September 2020 - July 2021, Superintendent, National Reconnaissance Office Operations Center, Fort (Ft) Belvoir, Va.
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July 2021 - September 2023, Senior Enlisted Leader, NRO Delta 21, Aerospace Data Facility– East, Ft Belvoir, Va.
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September 2023 – July 2026, Senior Enlisted Leader, National Reconnaissance Office, Chantilly, Va.
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July 2026 – Present, Senior Enlisted Leader, Space Systems Command, Los Angeles AFB, Calif.
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Defense Superior Service Medal
Defense Meritorious Service Medal
Meritorious Service Medal with oak leaf cluster
Air and Space Commendation Medal with oak leaf cluster
Air and Space Achievement Medal with three oak leaf clusters
Joint Meritorious Unit Award
Air and Space Outstanding Unit Award
Air Force Overseas Ribbon Short with ‘A’ Device
OTHER ACHIEVEMENTS
2007 533rd Training Squadron, Ballistic Missile Early Warning Course Distinguished Graduate
2012 Distinguished Graduate, Robert D. Gaylor Noncommissioned Officer Academy
2013 14th Air Force, Enlisted Space Operator of the Year
2014 Air Force Space Command, Noncommissioned Officer Space Operator of the Year
2017 Air Force Space Command, Senior Noncommissioned Officer Space Warning Operator of the Year
2017 Air Force, Senior Noncommissioned Officer Space Operator of the Year
EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION
Senior Airman February 11, 2005
Staff Sergeant April 1, 2007
Technical Sergeant June 1, 2011
Master Sergeant January 1, 2016
Senior Master Sergeant February 1, 2019
Chief Master Sergeant January 1, 2021
(Current as of July 2026)