Education Day 2010 Speaker

Kathleen D. Ryan, CGMP
Director of Protocol
United States Air Force

Kathleen Ryan is the Director of Protocol for the United States Air Force. She directly supports the Secretary of the Air Force and Chief of Staff and is responsible for the coordination of events and conferences for Air Force senior leadership as well as contributing to the development of protocol policy and guidance for the Service. Ms. Ryan also provides instruction to the Air Force Education and Training Command’s Protocol Fundamentals Course which all new protocol officers attend.

Formerly, as KDRyan, Inc., Ms. Ryan provided consultation, executive event management, training, and education in the fields of protocol and professional etiquette. She combined her extensive military and government background with her leadership knowledge and protocol skills to provide consultations, seminars, and speaking engagements which were tailored to the needs and perspectives of small businesses, universities, corporations, and government audiences. She also provided in-house training for protocol offices and departments.
Working with industry, Ms. Ryan was the protocol co-lead for the nationally televised 2006 Air Force Memorial Dedication in Washington D.C. at which the President presided. She was the protocol lead for the 2007 Global Air Chiefs Conference, hosted by the Chief of Staff and with delegations from 84 countries. As an Associate of the Protocol School of Washington® Ms. Ryan collaborated to develop the Protocol Officer Training Course (POTC) and was a course instructor of the school. She also was a Senior Associate of Harlan Lee & Associates providing protocol training and program management to the Missile Defense Agency and the Defense Intelligence Agency.

During her military career as an Air Force Officer, Ms. Ryan served as the Chief of Protocol for the US Air Force. She was the lead advisor in the development of the accredited Air Force Protocol Course, the only program of its kind in the government today. Ms. Ryan was also Aide-de-Camp to the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff where she planned and conducted over 33 world-wide missions coordinating with host country militaries and U.S. Embassies.
Ms. Ryan is the recipient of the US Air Force 2004 General Michael P.C. Carnes Services Award for leadership and ingenuity to improve processes; the 2005 Spirit of Diplomacy Award and 2007 Board of Directors Achievement Award from the Protocol & Diplomacy International Protocol Officers’ Association; the 2008 Members’ Choice Award from National Capital Chapter (NATCAP) of the Society of Government Meeting Professionals (there are over 800 members in the chapter).

In addition to her bachelor’s and master’s degrees, Ms. Ryan’s credentials include a certificate in Event Management from George Washington University. She is a Certified Government Meeting Professional (CGMP) through the Society of Government Meeting Professionals (SGMP) and is certified by The Protocol School of Washington®. Ms. Ryan is a founding board member of Protocol and Diplomacy International Protocol Officers Association and is the current Vice President. She is also a member of the National Capitol chapter of the Society of Government Meeting Professionals and is a Trustee for the Gilmer Institute of Learning affiliated with the SGMP.