Ms. Deanna L. Ryals, a member of the Senior Executive Service, is the Director of Space International Affairs, Office of the Deputy Under Secretary of the Air Force, International Affairs, the Pentagon, Arlington, Virginia. In this capacity, she is the principal advisor on space international affairs to senior Department of the Air Force leaders, including the Secretary of the Air Force, Chief of Space Operations, Chief of Staff of the Air Force and Secretary of the Air Force International Affairs leadership. Ms. Ryals leads teams managing space security cooperation functions that include international armaments cooperation, foreign military sales, politico-military matters and education programs. She is also the DAF senior representative regarding space issues involving foreign partners to the Office of the Secretary of Defense, Joint Staff, combatant commands, Defense Security Cooperation Agency, military departments, security cooperation implementing agencies, service components, major commands and field commands. Ms. Ryals is responsible for the development and coordination of DAF guidance, policies and strategies for collaboration with allies and partners, the interagency and industry on space matters critical to DAF warfighting requirements and operations.
Ms. Ryals served previously both in civil service and industry in space acquisition, program management and international affairs. She started her space career as a U.S. Air Force acquisition officer, managing a Military Satellite Communications portfolio of over $10 billion, and began her international affairs career when she became the Air Force Acquisition focal point for Allied space activities, during which she championed the largest space international partnership in Air Force history with the Wideband Global SATCOM system multinational agreement. Ms. Ryals also spearheaded the first national security space payload hosted on a foreign satellite via a partnership with Norway. Additionally, she has advanced the Space Domain Awareness and Positioning, Navigation and Timing (PNT) mission areas, having led collaboration between the U.S. Air Force and Japanese Ministry of Defense to host the first Space Domain Awareness payload on Japan’s PNT satellites. Further, in the SATCOM mission area, Ms. Ryals advocated a groundbreaking partnership through the North Atlantic Treaty Organization Support and Procurement Agency, enabling NATO partners to procure commercial SATCOM capabilities together.
Prior to assuming her current duties, she was the Director of International Strategy for the Assistant Chief of Space Operations for Future Capability and Partnerships, the Pentagon, Arlington, Va.
EDUCATION
2016 Bachelor of Science, Management Studies, International Affairs Minor, University of Maryland
2024 Executive Leadership Program, SHIELD, University of Southern California
CAREER CHRONOLOGY
1. June 1988–December 1994, Financial Analyst, Army Corps of Engineers, Fort Belvoir, Va.
2. October 1995–March 2000, Senior Project Leader, CMS/CACI, Office of the Secretary of Defense, the Pentagon, Arlington, Va.
3. April 2000–February 2012, Acquisition Program Manager, Space Acquisition Directorate, Office of the Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Acquisition, Technology, and Logistics, the Pentagon, Arlington, Va.
4. February 2012–December 2012, Acquisition Program Manager, Air Force Program Executive Office for Space Logistics, Chantilly, Va.
5. January 2013–August 2018, Chief, International Programs Division, Space and Missile Systems Center, Los Angeles Air Force Base, Calif.
6. August 2018–December 2020, Chief Partnership Officer and Director of International Affairs, Space and Missile Systems Center, Los Angeles AFB, Calif.
7. December 2020–November 2024, Director of International Affairs, Space Systems Command, Los Angeles AFB, Calif.
8. November 2024–Mar 2025, Director, International Strategy, Assistant Chief of Space Operations for Future Capability and Partnerships, the Pentagon, Arlington, Va.
9. Mar 2025–present, Director of Space International Affairs, Deputy Under Secretary of the Air Force, International Affairs, the Pentagon, Arlington, Va.
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
U.S. Air Force Meritorious Civilian Service Award
Air Force Space Command Nominee for the 69th Annual Arthur S. Flemming Award, Leadership / Management Category
Brig. Gen. Wilma Vaught Visionary Leadership Award
Women in Defense, LA Chapter, Salute to the Flag Award
Space and Missile Systems Center Nominee for the Air Force Association Outstanding Civilian Employee of the Year
CERTIFICATIONS
2015: Acquisition Professional Development Program, Level III Program Management Certification, Defense Acquisition University
(Current as of August 2025)