Maj. Gen. Jeannine M. Ryder is the Commander, Air Force Medical Agency. AFMED Agency is responsible for the support and execution of medical readiness programs, expeditionary medical capabilities, and the direct support and implementation of policy, plans, and programs for health care operations of the Air Force Medical Service to over 44,000 personnel at 76 military treatment facilities and exercises significant influence over a $6 billion budget.
Previously, Maj. Gen. Ryder served as the 18th Chief Nurse of the Air Force from August 2020 to April 2024. As Chief Nurse, Maj. Gen. Ryder created and evaluated policies and programs for 19,000 active duty Guard and Reserve nursing personnel. She interacted with Air Staff, Joint Staff, Department of Defense, Department of Veterans Affairs, and civilian healthcare organizations to develop the highest caliber of nursing personnel to deliver the best care to the Military Health System’s 9.6 million beneficiaries world-wide.
Maj. Gen. Ryder is a 1991 graduate of Boston College where she earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Nursing. She has commanded at the flight, squadron, group, wing, and field operating agency level in both deployed and in-garrison environments. Prior to her current assignment, Maj. Gen. Ryder was the Commander, 59th Medical Wing and Market Director, San Antonio Military Health System, Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, Texas.
EDUCATION
1991 Bachelor of Science, Nursing, Boston College, Chestnut Hill, Mass.
1997 Squadron Officer School, Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala.
1998 Master of Science, Human Relations (concentration Human Resources), University of Oklahoma, Norman
2005 Master of Arts and Science, Military Operations, Air Command Staff and College, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
2012 Master of Science, Strategic Studies, Air War College, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
2023 Enterprise Leadership Seminar, Kenan-Flagler Business School, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, N.C.
2024 Leadership and Organizational Transition for Senior Executives, T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Harvard University, Boston, Mass.
ASSIGNMENTS
1. August 1991–January 1992, Nurse Intern Program, Concentration in Obstetrics, Langley Air Force Base, Va.
2. February 1992–February 1995, Clinical Nurse, Obstetrical Unit, 36th Medical Group, Bitburg AB/52nd Medical Group, Spangdahlem Air Base, Germany
3. March 1995–September 1996, Clinical Nurse, Obstetrical Unit, 55th Medical Operations Squadron, Offutt AFB, Neb.
4. September 1996-July 1998, Deputy Commander, Education and Training Flight, 55th Medical Support Squadron, Offutt AFB, Neb.
5. July 1998–December 1999, Director, Education and Training, 78th Medical Group, Robins AFB, Ga.
6. December 1999–July 2001, Deputy Director, Human Resources, 78th Medical Group, Robins AFB, Ga.
7. July 2001–May 2003, Nurse Manager, Primary Care Team, 436th Medical Operations Squadron, Dover AFB, Del.
8. June 2003–July 2004, Pediatric Flight Commander, 436th Medical Operations Squadron, Dover AFB, Del.
9. August 2004–June 2005, Student, Air Command and Staff College, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
10. May 2005-June 2006, Deputy Director, Communication Studies Course I, Leadership Department, Air Command and Staff College, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
11. June 2006–July 2007, Executive Officer to the Commandant, Air Command and Staff College, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
12. July 2007–October 2008, Maternal-Child Flight Commander, 81st Inpatient Operations Squadron, Keesler AFB, Miss. (Deployed March-September 2008 Executive Officer/Aide-de-Camp, Combined Air Power Transition Force, Camp Eggers, Kabul, Afghanistan)
13. October 2008–June 2009, Deputy Commander, 81st Inpatient Operations Squadron and Deputy Chief Nurse Executive, Keesler AFB, Miss.
14. June 2009–June 2011, Commander, 75th Medical Operations Squadron, Hill AFB, Utah
15. July 2011–June 2012, Student, Air War College, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
16. July 2012–May 2013, Chief, Strategic Medical Plans Division, Air Force Medical Service Agency Defense Health Headquarters, Falls Church, Va.
17. June 2013–June 2014, Commander, 386th Expeditionary Medical Group, Southwest Asia
18. July 2014–June 2016, Commander, 72nd Medical Group, Tinker AFB, Okla.
19. June 2016–June 2018, Commander 81st Medical Group, Keesler AFB, Miss.
20. July 2018–August 2020, Command Surgeon, HQ Air Force Materiel Command, Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio
21. August 2020–April 2021, Commander, 711th Human Performance Wing, Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio, and Chief, Air Force Nurse Corps
22. April 2021–September 2023, Commander, 59th Medical Wing and Market Director, San Antonio Military Health System, Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, Texas, and Chief, Air Force Nurse Corps
23. September 2023–present, Commander, Air Force Medical Agency, Defense Health Headquarters, Falls Church, Va.
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Defense Superior Service Medal
Legion of Merit with two oak leaf clusters
Bronze Star Medal
Defense Meritorious Service Medal
Meritorious Service medal with silver oak leaf cluster
Air Force Commendation Medal
CURRENT NATIONAL CERTIFICATION
Nurse Executive
(Current as of May 2024)