Dr. Ryan joined the Middle East Institute as Vice President on January 2, 2008 after serving in the federal government for over 29 years. Before joining MEI, Dr. Ryan served as the Vice President for Administration and Finance in the Millennium Challenge corporation where he transformed MCC’s financial and information technology from start-up entities to high performing organizations.

In joining MEI, Dr. Ryan returns to the focus of his earlier career and education. After earning a PhD. in Near Eastern Languages and Civilizations, he worked as a political military analyst specializing in the Middle East and North Africa for the Department of Defense for ten years. During this period, Ryan made numerous high level presentations on regional security issues to NATO and, on a bilateral basis, to European allies and high-level government officials in the Middle East and North Africa. While serving in the Office of the Secretary of Defense, Dr. Ryan led the first delegation to Central Europe to offer International Military Education and Training assistance to countries emerging from Soviet dominance. Ryan published a number articles on US military assistance to the Middle East and received the Defense Intelligence Agency’s highest civilian award for his analysis during the Iran-Iraq war.

During his tenure at the US Department of State, Ryan served as Executive Director and Controller of the Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs and acted as Deputy Assistant Secretary. He later joined the Environment Protection Agency, where he served as Controller, Deputy Chief Financial Officer. While at State and EPA, Dr. Ryan received numerous awards including EPA’s Distinguished Career Award.

Ryan received his BA from St. John’s College in Annapolis and his PhD from Harvard University. He studied for three years in Egypt on fellowships from The Center for Arabic Study Abroad at the American University of Cairo, Fulbright and the American Research Center in Egypt(Fulbright Scholar).