Ryan took command of the 88th Air Base Wing from Col. Andrew K. Weaver who has decided to retire.
Colonel Colleen M. Ryan is the Commander, 88th Air Base Wing and Installation Commander, Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio. She commands the largest air base wing in the Air Force with more than 5,000 officers, enlisted, Air Force civilians and contractor employees.
The wing provides support and services to the largest, most diverse, and most organizationally complex base in the Air Force including a major acquisition center, research and development laboratories, a major command headquarters, an airlift wing, and the world’s largest military air museum. The base is home to more than 22,000 military, government civilian, and contractor employees and 60 associate units.
Colonel Ryan entered the Air Force in 1982, after receiving her commission through the ROTC program from the University of New Hampshire in Durham. She entered Undergraduate Navigator Training in 1983 and earned her navigator wings in 1984. She is a master navigator with more than 3,400 hours, primarily in the WC-135 and VC-135/137 aircraft.
In addition to her flying assignments, she has served in staff positions at Air Force and major command level. As a staff officer on the Air Staff, she was in charge of worldwide Air Force Advance Agent support to the President of the United States. She served a joint tour at Cheyenne Mountain Air Station, including mission director, where she was responsible for worldwide attack warning, space defense, surveillance and control. Colonel Ryan served as Chief, Commander’s Action Group, Headquarters United States Air Forces in Europe and as Commander, 89th Operations Support Squadron, Andrews AFB, Md. Before coming to Wright-Patterson AFB, she served as Commander, 100th Mission Support Group, RAF Mildenhall, England.
EDUCATION: 1982: Bachelor of Science Degree in Medical Technology, University of New Hampshire, Durham N.H. 1987: Squadron Officer School (in residence), Maxwell AFB, Ala. 1994: Master of Science Degree in Aerospace Science Technology, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, Fla. 1997: Air Command and Staff College (in residence), Maxwell AFB, Ala. 2002: Air War College/Masters in Strategic Studies (in residence), Maxwell AFB, Ala.
ASSIGNMENTS: 1. July 1983 - February 1984, student, Undergraduate Navigator Training, 451st Fighter Training Wing, Mather AFB, Calif. 2. April 1984 - May 1989, Navigator, Instructor and Evaluator Navigator, 55th Weather Reconnaissance Squadron, McClellan AFB, Calif. 3. May 1989 - January 1994, Special Air Mission (SAM) Navigator, Instructor and SAM Mission Director, 89th Airlift Wing, Andrews AFB, Md. 4. January 1994 - July 1996, Chief, Presidential Flight Support and Deputy Chief, Special Air Missions, Office of the Vice Chief of Staff for Special Air Missions, Headquarters U.S. Air Force, Washington, D.C. 5. August 1996 - June 1997, student, Air Command and Staff College, Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala. 6. June 1997 - August 1999, Chief, Presentations Division and Mission Director, Cheyenne Mountain Operations Center, NORAD/USSPACECOM, Cheyenne Mountain AS, Colo. 7. August 1999 - June 2000, Operations Officer, 89th Operational Support Squadron, Andrews AFB, Md. 8. June 2000 - July 2001, Commander, 89th Operational Support Squadron, Andrews Air Force Base, Md. 9. August 2001 - July 2002, student, Air War College, Maxwell AFB, Ala. 10. July 2002 - June 2003, Chief, Bases Branch, Directorate, Plans & Programs, Headquarters, U.S. Air Forces Europe (USAFE), Ramstein AB, Germany 11. June 2003 - May 2004, Chief, Commander's Action Group, HQ USAFE, Ramstein AB, Germany 12. June 2004 - September 2004, Deputy Commander, 100th Mission Support Group, RAF Mildenhall, England 13. September 2004 – June 2006, Commander, 100th Mission Support Group, RAF Mildenhall, England 14. June 2006 – Present, Commander, 88th Air Base Wing, Air Force Materiel Command, Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio
FLIGHT INFORMATION: Rating: Master Navigator Flight hours: 3443.0 Aircraft flown: T-43A, WC-135B, C-135B/C, and VC-137B/C
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS: Defense Meritorious Service Medal Meritorious Service Medal with 2 oak leaf clusters Air Medal Air Force Commendation Medal National Defense Service Medal with bronze star
EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION: Second Lieutenant -- Sept. 21, 1982 First Lieutenant -- Sept. 21, 1984 Captain -- Sept. 21, 1986 Major -- Sept. 1, 1994 Lieutenant Colonel -- Sept. 1, 1998 Colonel -- June 1, 2004