Capt. James Ryan ’17

Major: Computer Engineering 

Serving the nation through exceptional leadership in flight

Driven by a deep call to serve, Captain James Ryan ’17 has transformed his Notre Dame experience into a life of courage, leadership, and sacrifice in the skies. 

Since his participation in the University’s Air Force ROTC program, where he cultivated lifelong friendships and advanced his call to service, Capt. Ryan has served as a Combat Systems Officer with Air Force Special Operations Command. He has amassed over 1,700 flight hours, primarily in the U-28A “Draco,” flying 248 combat missions during deployments to Afghanistan, Iraq, and the Horn of Africa. In 2023, he was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross with Valor—the nation’s highest award for aerial achievement—for actions taken during a noncombatant evacuation in Afghanistan. Most recently, he was selected to attend the USAF’s prestigious Test Pilot School, where he will pursue a master’s of science degree in flight test engineering while training to test and evaluate experimental aircraft and emerging aerospace systems.

Outside of his military duties, Capt. Ryan volunteers with two aviation heritage foundations, educating the public on military flight history. He is an avid SCUBA diver and has participated in research dives aimed at culling invasive lionfish populations from Florida coastal waters. 

Capt. Ryan graduated with a degree in computer engineering from the University of Notre Dame. In addition to his involvement in the Air Force ROTC program, he also contributed to the Marching and Jazz Bands. He is a proud Highlander of Duncan Hall and attributes his lifelong friendships to his involvement in both residential and campus life.