Lieutenant Colonel Ryan A. Fitzgerald is the US Air Force 2024-2025 Fellow at MIT's Security Studies Program. Prior to his arrival at MIT, he was the Chief of Staff, 55th Wing, Offutt Air Force Base, Nebraska where he directed, organized, tasked, and coordinated staff efforts for 24 Wing agencies. Lt Col Fitzgerald earned his commission upon graduating from the United States Air Force Academy in 2004. He completed Specialized Undergraduate Pilot Training in 2006 at Laughlin Air Force Base, Texas and has served as an instructor pilot and evaluator pilot in each of the RC-135 variants. His previous assignments include the 343d Reconnaissance Squadron Chief of training, Chief of Standardization and Evaluation, and Assistant Director of Operations, 338th Combat Training Squadron Assistant Director of Operations, Headquarters Air Force as an Airpower Strategist for the Asia-Pacific cell, and director of operations for the 82d Reconnaissance Squadron. Prior to that, Lt Col Fitzgerald was the squadron commander for the 82d Reconnaissance Squadron, Kadena Air Base, Japan.

Lt Col Fitzgerald is a Command Pilot with more than 3,400 flying hours, including 1,074 combat hours, in the
RC-135S/U/V/W, T-38 & T-6 aircraft.