Mick Ryan (general)

Mick Ryan
Military career
AllegianceAustralia
Branch
Australian Army
Service years
1987–2022
Rank
Major General
Units1st Field Squadron, RAE, 1st Combat Engineer Regiment, 1st Brigade, Australian Defence College
CommandsAustralian Defence College (2018–22)
1st Brigade (2014–16)
1st Reconstruction Task Force (2006–07)
1st Combat Engineer Regiment (2006–07)[not verified in body]
Conflicts
United Nations Transitional Administration in East Timor
Iraq War
War in Afghanistan[not verified in body]
AwardsMember of the Order of Australia
Meritorious Service Medal (United States)
Joint Service Commendation Medal (United States)
Other workSenior Fellow for Military Studies, Lowy Institute

Major General Michael Barry Ryan, AM is a retired senior officer of the Australian Army and a military strategist. Ryan served as Commander of the Australian Defence College 2018 to 2022, became a Senior Fellow for Military Studies at the Lowy Institute in 2024, and is a Adjunct Fellow of the Center for Strategic and International Studies. He is a commentator on contemporary military affairs, including the Russo-Ukrainian War, Asia/Pacific military strategy, and military matters in the Middle East.

Military career

Ryan graduated from the Royal Military College, Duntroon, in 1989 and was commissioned into the Royal Australian Engineers. He spent over 35 years in the Australian Army and had the honour of commanding soldiers at troop, squadron, regiment, task force and brigade levels. Ryan served in East Timor, Iraq and Afghanistan as well as on the U.S. joint staff in Washington DC.

Mick is a distinguished graduate of the U.S. Marine Corps Command and Staff College (2002), the U.S. Marine Corps School of Advanced Warfighting (2003), and a distinguished graduate from the Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies in Washington DC (2012). In May 2026, Mick completed his PhD at the University of Queensland.

He was appointed a Member of the Order of Australia in the 2008 Australia Day Honours. Ryan retired from the Australian Army as a major general in 2022, having served as Commander of the Australian Defence College from 2018.

Books and publications

Ryan is the author of several books, as well as significant reports and reviews during his military career.

Nonfiction

Fiction

References

  1. ↑ "Lowy Institute appoints Mick Ryan as Senior Fellow for Military Studies". lowyinstitute.org. 2 July 2024. Retrieved 25 May 2025.
  2. ↑ "Mick Ryan — Adjunct Fellow (Non-resident), Australia Chair". csis.org. Retrieved 25 May 2025.
  3. ↑ "Lieutenant Colonel Michael Barry RYAN". Australian Honours Search Facility. Retrieved 27 May 2025.
  4. 1 2 "Major General Mick Ryan" (PDF). cove.army.gov. Retrieved 28 May 2025.
  5. ↑ "Major General (Ret'd) Mick Ryan AM". lowyinstitute.org/. Retrieved 25 May 2025.