Col. Ryan M. Hanson

Col. Ryan M. Hanson was born in Madison, Wisconsin. He entered the U.S. Army in 1991 and attended Basic Training at Fort Leonard Wood, MO and Advanced Individual Training at Fort Eustis, VA.  Col. Hanson served as a Helicopter Missile Systems Repairer until 1999, after which he completed the Army Officer Candidate School and was commissioned into the Infantry. In 2006 he completed the Civil Affairs Qualification Course and transferred to Civil Affairs. He has served as a team leader, Headquarters and Headquarters Company commander, battalion executive officer, brigade operations officer, and battalion commander in the 95th Civil Affairs Brigade (Airborne), 1st Special Forces Command (Airborne). Col. Hanson’s most recent assignment was as the brigade commander for 1st Armored Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division.

Col. Hanson’s additional assignments included serving as: platoon leader, and support platoon leader, 1st Battalion, 327th Infantry Regiment; instructor, Infantry Officer Basic Course; company commander, 2nd Battalion, 13th Infantry Regiment; Aide-de-Camp to the commander, Fort Jackson; executive officer to the commander USFOR-A, Secretary of the General Staff, U.S. Army Special Operations Center of Excellence; and assistant chief of staff G-9, III Corps.

Col. Hanson’s military education and training includes: National War College, Naval Command and Staff College, Basic Military Language Course (Tagalog); Regional Studies Course (Asia); Civil Affairs Course, Infantry Captain’s Career Course, Infantry Officer Basic Course, SERE C, Jumpmaster Course, Basic Airborne Course, Air Assault Course, Pathfinder Course, and the Ranger Course.

Col. Hanson’s civilian education includes: Bachelor of Science degree (Public Administration) from Austin Peay State University (2002); Masters of Science degree (Human Resource Management) from Troy University (2004); Masters of Arts degree (National Security and Strategic Studies) from the Naval War College (2013); and a Master of Arts degree (National Security Strategy) from the National War College (2020).

Col. Hanson’s operational assignments include deployments to Afghanistan, Pakistan, Germany, Poland, and the Philippines.