William A. Ryan III

William A. Ryan III (born 1972) is a career officer in the United States Army. A 1994 graduate of the United States Military Academy at West Point, he is an Aviation officer and a veteran of the Iraq War and the War in Afghanistan. Ryan attained the rank of major general as commander of First Army Division West in 2023 and served as interim commander of First Army in 2024. In 2025, Ryan was assigned as director of operations for United Nations Command and Republic of Korea/US Combined Forces Command. His major awards and decorations include the Defense Superior Service Medal, multiple awards of the Legion of Merit, and the Distinguished Flying Cross.

Early career William Aloysius Ryan III was born in Chicago in 1972, the son of Colonel and Mrs. William A. Ryan II. In 1990, he graduated from Lakes High School in Lakewood, Washington. Ryan graduated from the United States Military Academy at West Point in 1994 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Mathematics and was commissioned as a second lieutenant of Aviation.

After completion of the Aviation Officer Basic Course, Ryan's initial assignments with the 101st Airborne Division included attack platoon leader, liaison officer, and battalion personnel staff officer (S-1) for 2nd Battalion, 101st Aviation Regiment.

Military education In addition to the Aviation Officer Basic Course, Ryan's military education includes: From June to September 2021, he was assigned as a special assistant to the deputy commander of I Corps, and in October 2021 he took over as deputy commander. From August 2023 to June 2025, Ryan was commander of First Army Division West, and he acted as commander of First Army on an interim basis in 2024. He was promoted to major general in December 2023. In July 2025, Ryan was assigned as director of operations for United Nations Command and Republic of Korea/US Combined Forces Command.

Awards Ryan's major awards include:

Defense Superior Service Medal Legion of Merit with three bronze oak leaf clusters Distinguished Flying Cross Bronze Star Medal with silver oak leaf cluster Meritorious Service Medal with silver oak leaf cluster Air Medal with numeral 3 Parachutist Badge Air Assault Badge Combat Action Badge Army Staff Identification Badge Master Army Aviator Badge

In addition to his army awards, Ryan is a recipient of the Army Aviation Association of America's Honorable Order of St. Michael (Silver).