COLONEL RYAN L. HILL Published May 26, 2026 Official Photo of Colonel Ryan L . Hill Photo Details / Download Hi-Res Col Ryan Hill is the Dean of the Air War College, Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala. The Air War College is the Air Force’s senior professional military education institution, providing post-graduate senior leader development programs focused on joint, multinational, multi-agency warfighting and international security operations, air, space and cyberspace force strategy development and national security planning. Col Hill graduated from the United States Air Force Academy in 1999. He earned his wings as a distinguished graduate of pilot training at Columbus Air Force Base, Miss. He has served as flight commander in a fighter squadron and maintenance squadron and was the lead Operational Planner at United States Forces Korea. He also served as the director of operations and commander of the 81st Fighter Squadron at Moody Air Force Base, Ga., where he helped stand up and lead an A-29 squadron to train Afghan pilots and maintainers. Prior to his current position, Col Hill was the Director of the Stockdale Leader Development Program at the Naval War College, Newport, R.I. Col Hill is a command pilot with more than 2,600 flight hours in the A/OA-10A, A/OA-10C, and A-29B, including 389 combat hours. He has deployed to Operation ENDURING FREEDOM on the ground as a Battalion Air Liaison Officer with the 82d Airborne Division and in the air, leading lose Air Support and Combat Search and Rescue missions, as an A-10 pilot. EDUCATION 1999 Bachelor of Science in Biology, U.S. Air Force Academy, Colo. 2000 Air and Space Basic Course, Air University, Maxwell AFB, Ala. 2006 Squadron Officer’s School, Air University, Maxwell AFB, Ala. 2009 Master of Military Arts and Sciences, Air University, Maxwell AFB, Ala., by correspondence 2011Command and General Staff College, Fort Leavenworth, Kan. 2012 Master of Military Arts and Sciences, School of Advanced Military Studies, Fort Leavenworth, Kan. 2019 Master of Arts in National Security and Strategic Studies, Naval War College, Newport, R.I. 2024 Doctorate of Philosophy in Political Science, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tenn. ASSIGNMENTS 1.September 1999 – March 2000, Scheduling Officer, 375 Operations Squadron, Scott AFB, Ill. 2.April 2000 - April 2001, student, Undergraduate Pilot Training, Columbus AFB, Miss. 3.May 2001 – July 2001, student, Introduction to Fighter Fundamentals, Sheppard AFB, Texas 4.August 2001 – April 2002, student, A-10 Initial Qualification Training Course, Davis-Monthan AFB, Ariz. 5.May 2002 – September 2005, Jump Battalion Air Liaison Officer, A/OA-10A Pilot, Chief of Readiness, 75th Fighter Squadron, Pope AFB, N.C. 6.October 2005 – July 2006, Chief of Mission Planning, A/OA-10A Multi-Ship Flight Lead, 355th Operations Squadron, Davis-Monthan AFB, Ariz. 7.August 2006 – February 2008, Flight Commander, A/OA-10A Instructor Pilot, 358th Fighter Squadron, Davis-Monthan AFB, Ariz. CUI 8. March 2008 – May 2009, Assistant Director of Operations, A-10A/C Instructor/Evaluator Pilot, 358th Fighter Squadron, Davis-Monthan AFB, Ariz 9. June 2009 – May 2010, Quality Assurance Flight Commander, A-10A/C Instructor Pilot, 355th Maintenance Group, Davis-Monthan AFB, Ariz 10. June 2010 – December 2010, Assistant Director of Operations, A-10A/C Instructor Pilot, 358th Fighter Squadron, Davis-Monthan AFB, Ariz 11. January 2011 – December 2011, student, Army Command and General Staff College, Fort Leavenworth, Kan 12. January 2012 – December 2012, student, School of Advanced Military Studies, Fort Leavenworth, Kan 13. January 2013 – December 2014, Lead Operational Planner, United States Forces Korea, Yongsan Army Garrison, South Korea 14. December 2014 – July 2016, Director of Operations, 81 Fighter Squadron, Moody AFB, GA 15. July 2016 – June 2018, Commander, 81 Fighter Squadron, Moody AFB, GA 16. July 2018 – June 2019, student, Naval War College, Newport, RI 17. June 2019 – June 2021, Military Professor, Naval War College, Newport, RI 18. July 2021 – June 2024, Ph.D. Student, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN 19. July 2024 – October 2025, Professor and Department Chair, Air War College, Maxwell AFB, Ala 20. November 2025 – present, Associate Dean of Academics, Air War College, Maxwell AFB, Ala SUMMARY OF JOINT ASSIGNMENTS 1. January 2013 – December 2014, Lead Operational Planner, United States Forces Korea, Yongsan Army Garrison, South Korea 2. June 2019 – June 2021, Military Professor, Naval War College, Newport, RI FLIGHT INFORMATION Rating: Command Pilot Flight Hours: more than 2,600 (389 combat hours) Aircraft flown: T-37, T-38B, A/OA-10A, A-10C, JAS-39, A-29B MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS Defense Meritorious Service Medal with oak leaf cluster Meritorious Service Medal with oak leaf cluster Air Medal with four oak leaf clusters Aerial Achievement Medal Air Force Commendation Medal Army Commendation Medal Air Force Achievement Medal Air Force Combat Action Medal OTHER ACHIEVEMENTS Distinguish and Top Graduate, Undergraduate Pilot Training Top Third, Squadron Officer School Top 20%, Command and General Staff College Highest Distinction, Naval War College AETC’s Excellence in International Affairs Award, 2018 19th Air Force Lance P. Sijan Leadership Award, 2018 EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION Second Lieutenant June 2, 1999 First Lieutenant June 2, 2001 Captain June 2, 2003 Major Jan. 1, 2009 Lieutenant Colonel July 1, 2014 Colonel July 1, 2020 (Current as of April 2026)