Brig. Gen. Ryan Messer is the Deputy Director for Global Operations, Joint Staff, the Pentagon, Arlington, Virginia. As DDGO, he is responsible for advising the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and the Joint Staff Director of Operations on Information Operations. This includes conducting interagency coordination and managing the preparation of orders for Cyber Operations, Military Information Support Operations, Military Deception, and other special programs.
Brig. Gen. Messer received his commission in 1997 after graduating from Louisiana State University. He has served as an instructor weapons systems officer, weapons officer and USAF Weapons School Instructor in the F-15E. Brig. Gen. Messer has commanded at the squadron and twice at the wing level, and his staff assignments include service at the Headquarters Air Staff, International Security Assistance Force Afghanistan, the Joint Staff and Air Combat Command. He is a Master Navigator with more than 2,300 flying hours including 230 combat hours and has supported combat operations Northern Watch, Enduring Freedom, Noble Eagle, Iraqi Freedom, Inherent Resolve and Spartan Shield. Prior to his current assignment, he served as the Director of Plans, Deputy Chief of Staff, Plans and Programs, Headquarters U.S. Air Force, Arlington, Virginia.
EDUCATION
1997 Bachelor of Arts, Political Science, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, La.
2002 Tactical Leadership Programme, Florennes Air Base, Belgium
2004 U.S. Air Force Weapons Instructor Course, Nellis Air Force Base, Nev.
2004 Squadron Officer School, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
2007 Air Command and Staff College, Maxwell AFB, Ala., by correspondence
2007 Master of Aeronautical Science w/ distinction, Embry Riddle Aeronautical University, Fla.
2009 Masters of Arts, Security Studies, Naval Post Graduate School, Monterey, Calif.
2011 Air War College, Maxwell AFB, Ala., by correspondence
2016 Masters of Science, National Resource Strategy, Eisenhower School, Fort Lesley J. McNair, Washington D.C.
2016 Adaptive and Agile Leadership Networks Concentration, Eisenhower School, Fort McNair, Washington D.C.
2016 OSD Fundamentals of Human-Centered Design Program, LUMA Institute, Arlington, Va.
2018 Leading Strategically Program, Center for Creative Leadership, Colorado Springs, Colo.
2018 Leadership Development Program, McChrystal Group, Seymour Johnson AFB, N.C.
2019 Capital Hill Workshop, Alan L. Freed Associates, Washington, D.C.
2019 Enterprise Leadership Program, Kenan-Flagler Business School, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
ASSIGNMENTS
1. October 1997–March 1999, Student, Specialized Undergraduate Navigator Training, Naval Air Station Pensacola, Fla.
2. April 1999–July 2000, Student, F-15E, 333rd Fighter Squadron, Seymour-Johnson Air Force Base, N.C.
3. July 2000–July 2003, F-15E WSO, Chief, Air to Ground Munitions, Training Officer, 492nd Fighter Squadron; and F-15E Instructor WSO, Chief, Air to Ground Division, 4. 48th Operational Support Squadron, RAF Lakenheath, U.K.
5. July 2003–January 2004, F-15E Instructor WSO, 391st Fighter Squadron, Mountain Home AFB, Idaho
6. January 2004–June 2004, USAF Weapons School Student, Nellis AFB, Nev.
7. July 2004–April 2006, F-15E Weapons Officer, Chief, Air to Ground Tactics, 366th Operational Support Squadron; and Flight Commander, 391st Fighter Squadron, Mountain Home AFB, Idaho
8. May 2006–August 2008, F-15E Weapons School Instructor, Air to Ground Flight Commander, 17th Weapons Squadron, USAF Weapons School; and Subject Matter Expert, 561st Joint Tactics Squadron, USAF Warfare Center, Nellis AFB, Nev.
9. September 2008–December 2009, Student, Naval Postgraduate School, Monterey, Calif.
10. January 2010–March 2012, Chief, Force Structure Branch, Air Force Strategic Plans and Programs (A8), Headquarters Air Force, the Pentagon, Washington, D.C.
11. April 2012–June 2012, Student, F-15E, 333rd Fighter Squadron, Seymour-Johnson Air Force Base, N.C.
12. July 2012–January 2013, Director of Operations, 17th Weapons Squadron, USAF Weapons School, Nellis AFB, Nev.
13. January 2013–December 2014, Commander, 17th Weapons Squadron, USAF Weapons School, Nellis AFB, Nev.
14. December 2014–June 2015, Deputy Commandant, USAF Weapons School, Nellis AFB, Nev.
15. July 2015–June 2016, Student, Eisenhower School, National Defense University, Fort Lesley J. McNair, Washington D.C.
16. June 2016–June 2017, Chief, Multinational Operations Division, Joint Staff J3, Pentagon, Arlington, Va.
17. June 2017–June 2018, Chief of Staff, Transregional Threats Coordination Cell, Joint Staff J5, the Pentagon, Arlington, Va.
18. June 2018–June 2019, Vice Commander, 4th Fighter Wing, Seymour Johnson AFB, N.C.
19. June 2019–July 2021, Commander, 53rd Wing, Eglin AFB, Fla.
20. August 2021–June 2022, Deputy Director of Plans, Programs and Requirements, Headquarters Air Combat Command, Joint Base Langley-Eustis, Va.
21. July 2022–July 2023, Commander, 332nd Air Expeditionary Wing, Southwest Asia
22. July 2023–March 2025, Director of Plans, Deputy Chief of Staff for Plans and Programs, Headquarters U.S. Air Force, the Pentagon, Arlington, Va.
23. March 2025–present, Deputy Director for Global Operations, Joint Staff, the Pentagon, Arlington, Va.
SUMMARY OF JOINT ASSIGNMENTS
June 2016–June 2017, Chief, Multinational Operations Division, Joint Staff J3, the Pentagon, Arlington, Va., as a colonel
June 2017–June 2018, Chief of Staff, Transregional Threats Coordination Cell, Joint Staff J5, the Pentagon, Arlington, Va., as a colonel
March 2025–present, Deputy Director for Global Operations, Joint Staff J39, the Pentagon, Arlington, Va., as a brigadier general
FLIGHT INFORMATION
Rating: master navigator
Flight hours: more than 2,300, including 230 combat hours
Primary Aircraft Flown: F-15E
Other Aircraft flown: B-1, B-2, B-52, HC-130J, HH-60G, F-16D, MH-60K, QF-4E, T-34, T-38, T-39 and TU-2S
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Defense Superior Service Medal
Legion of Merit with three oak leaf clusters
Bronze Star
Meritorious Service Medal with two oak leaf clusters
Air and Space Medal with oak leaf cluster
Air and Space Commendation Medal with two oak leaf clusters
Joint Meritorious Unit Award
Meritorious Unit Award
Air and Space Outstanding Unit Award with four oak leaf clusters
Combat Readiness Medal with oak leaf cluster
National Defense Service Medal with service star
Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal
Afghanistan Campaign Medal with two service stars
Inherent Resolve Campaign Medal with service star
Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal
Global War on Terrorism Service Medal
Humanitarian Service Medal with service star
Nuclear Deterrence Operations Service Medal with oak leaf cluster
NATO Medal
French National Defense Medal with Gold Echelon
OTHER ACHIEVEMENTS
2004 Distinguished graduate and academic award, USAF Weapons School
2008 USAF O’Malley Award
2008 USAF Kenney Award
2016 Distinguished graduate, Eisenhower School, National Defense University
(Current as of May 2025)