Colonel Ryan E. Harrah is currently assigned to the 130th Airlift Wing, West Virginia Air National Guard, McLaughlin Air National Guard Base, Charleston, West Virginia. He is currently serving as the Maintenance Group Commander. In this position, Colonel Harrah leads, trains, and equips personnel supporting aerospace equipment sustainment and operations. He administers aircraft maintenance programs and resources. Additionally, he directs aircraft maintenance production, staff activity, and related materiel programs.
Colonel Harrah enlisted in 1997 as an Airman and entered the Security Forces career field. He earned the rank of Technical Sergeant while serving as a Raven, Squad Leader, and in the Standardization and Evaluation Section. Colonel Harrah was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in 2006 upon completion of the Academy of Military Science. He first served as a Manpower Personnel Officer, then later as a Force Support Officer. As a Security Forces Squadron Commander, he was responsible for leading “Defenders” and managing Security Forces programs, including Integrated Defense, Air Base Ground Defense, Weapons Systems Security, Law Enforcement, Combat Arms Training and Maintenance, Phoenix Raven, Personnel Function, Standardization and Evaluation, and Counter-Sniper. Additionally, he managed the Wing’s Integrated Delivery System, Antiterrorism, Operations Security, and Military Deception Programs. The Colonel served as a wing Executive Officer; responsible for overseeing information management activities for the commander, handling public affairs duties, representing the commander in interaction with and partnership building with other agencies of all levels, management of the commander’s executive staff, responsible for unit programs and special projects, and served as a Protocol Officer, Resource Advisor, Cooperative Agreement Manager, and as a Sexual Assault Response Coordinator. Colonel Harrah served as the A5/7 Director on the West Virginia Air National Guard Headquarters staff. He was responsible for strategic planning, domestic operations, and installations. Colonel then served as the Mission Support Group Deputy Commander, 130th Airlift Wing, McLaughlin ANGB, Charleston, WV. Prior to his latest assignment, Colonel Harrah served as the Maintenance Group Deputy Commander and as the Unit Conversion Officer for the 130th Airlift Wing as it went through a mission conversion.
His service includes deployments and travel to over 28 nations/territories while taking part in various major operations. Colonel Harrah served on the headquarters staff of two Numbered Air Forces, 9 AF and 15 AF, developing both into Joint Task Force capable headquarters. While at 9 AF, he facilitated the JTF Staff Basic Course and served as the Liaison Officer to the U.S. Army’s XVIII Airborne Corps at Ft. Bragg and III Armored Corps at Ft. Hood. He has taken part in multiple domestic operations serving as a Liaison Officer to civilian authorities, Liaison Officer Trainer, and served two years as the Public Safety Chairperson for the ANG Domestic Capability Priorities Conference. His civilian experience includes service in federal law enforcement with the Federal Protective Service, U.S. Department of Homeland Security, private business, banking and financial industries, and a Veteran Service Organization.
EDUCATION
1999 Airman Leadership School, Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala., by correspondence
2001 Associate of Applied Science, Criminal Justice, Community College of the Air Force, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
2001 Bachelor of Business Administration, Management, Marshall University, Huntington, W.Va.
2004 Noncommissioned Officer Academy, Maxwell AFB, Ala., by correspondence
2006 Academy of Military Science, McGhee-Tyson ANGB, Knoxville, Tenn.
2010 Master of Science, Strategic Leadership, Mountain State University, Beckley, W.Va.
2010 ANG Intermediate Development Course, McGhee-Tyson ANGB, Knoxville, Tenn.
2011 Squadron Officer School, Air University, Maxwell AFB, Ala., by correspondence
2017 Air Command and Staff College, Air University, Maxwell AFB, Ala., by correspondence
2019 Reserve Component National Security Course, National Defense University, Ft. Lesley McNair, Washington, D.C.
2020 Air War College, Air University, Maxwell AFB, Ala., by correspondence
ASSIGNMENTS
1. June 1997-December 2005, Security Forces Craftsman, 130th Security Forces Squadron, Charleston, W.Va
(December 2002-May 2003, Security Forces Squad Leader, 332nd Air Expeditionary Wing, Al Jaber AB, Kuwait)
2. December 2005-October 2009, Force Support Officer, 130th Force Support Squadron, Charleston, W.Va.
3. October 2009-July 2015, Commander, 130th Security Forces Squadron, McLaughlin ANGB, Charleston, W.Va.
(September 2013–April 2014, Antiterrorism Officer/Convoy Operations Manager, NATC-A, Kabul, Afghanistan)
4. July 2015-October 2017, Executive Officer, 130th Airlift Wing, McLaughlin ANGB, Charleston, W.Va.
5. October 2017-October 2018, Deputy Director, A5/7, Headquarters, W.Va. Air National Guard, Charleston, W.Va.
(October 2017–March 2019, Deputy Director - Training, A7, Headquarters, Ninth Air Force, Shaw AFB, S.C.)
6. October 2018-May 2019, Director, A5/7, Headquarters, W.Va. Air National Guard, Charleston, W.Va.
7. June 2019-April 2022, Deputy Commander, 130th Mission Support Group, McLaughlin ANGB, Charleston, W.Va.
(October 2020-August 2021, Deputy Division Chief, A7E, Headquarters, Fifteenth Air Force, Shaw AFB, S.C.)
(August 2022-December 2023, Unit Conversion Officer, 130th Airlift Wing, McLaughlin ANGB, Charleston, W.Va.)
8. May 2022-November 2023, Deputy Commander, 130th Maintenance Group, McLaughlin ANGB, Charleston, W.Va.
9. December 2023-Present, Commander, 130th Maintenance Group, McLaughlin ANGB, Charleston, W.Va.
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Meritorious Service Medal with four oak leaf clusters
Air Force Commendation Medal with two oak leaf clusters
Air Force Achievement Medal with oak leaf cluster
OTHER ACHIEVEMENTS
1994 National Eagle Scout Award
2001 Cum laude, Bachelor of Business Administration, Marshall University, Huntington, W.Va.
2004 Noncommissioned Officer of the Year, 130th Security Forces Squadron, Charleston, W.Va.
2006 Distinguished Graduate, Academy of Military Science, McGhee-Tyson ANGB, Tenn.
2008 Graduate, Uniformed Police Training Program, FLETC, Glynco, Georgia
2011 Distinguished Graduate, Security Forces Basic Officer Course, Camp Bullis, Texas
2014 Company Grade Officer of the Quarter, 438 AEW/NATC-A, Kabul, Afghanistan
2015-2016 Chairperson, Public Safety (ESF-13), ANG Domestic Capability Priorities, Washington, D.C.
PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS AND AFFILIATIONS
National Guard Association of the United States, Life Member
National Guard Association of West Virginia, Life Member
Enlisted Association of the National Guard of the United States, Life Associate Member
EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION
Second Lieutenant February 17, 2006
First Lieutenant February 17, 2008
Captain February 17, 2010
Major July 18, 2014
Lieutenant Colonel August 15, 2018
Colonel January 31, 2024
(Current as of February 2024)