Stephen Ryan

Stephen Ryan is a senior systems engineering manager and chief systems engineer in Northrop Grumman's Space Systems sector. He is a senior technical leader and manager bridging business development, strategy, engineering, and technology to execute next-generation space system development and production programs and also serves as the company's leading expert on activity-based intelligence (ABI). He previously served as a senior portfolio manager for autonomy and artificial intelligence technologies for Aerospace systems as well as a mission engineering manager and chief architect in the company's Mission Systems sector in the intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) and cyber & intelligence businesses. He is also a fellow at the Truman National Security Project, an organization composed of next-generation American leaders dedicated to developing strong, smart and principled solutions to the global challenges Americans now face.

Prior to joining Northrop Grumman, he was a decorated intelligence analyst with the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (NGA), where he specialized in terrorism analysis focused on Afghanistan and Pakistan. He spent a year deployed to Afghanistan during Operation ENDURING FREEDOM in support of Special Operations Forces (SOF). He is the two-time recipient of the Joint Civilian Service Commendation Award and has also received the NATO Medal, the Secretary of Defense Medal for the Global War on Terror, and numerous team and individual awards for excellence in analysis and program support.

Ryan was scenario director and a senior analyst for TRIDENT SPECTRE, an interagency exercise hosted by the SOF community focused on technology and methodology evaluation and development. In 2012, he served on an interagency team sponsored by the National Intelligence Council with five analysts and a distinguished scholar (Dr. Bruce Hoffman) that re-evaluated Al-Qaeda in light of the events of the Arab Spring. In 2013, he helped create the Intelligence Community's first formal training course in activity-based intelligence, dubbed "ABI 101."

He is pursuing an M.S. in Systems Engineering from The Johns Hopkins University. In addition, he received his M.A. in Security Studies, with honors, from the Walsh School of Foreign Service at Georgetown University. and a B.A., summa cum laude, in International Affairs from The George Washington University's Elliott School of International Affairs. At GW, Ryan graduated with university and departmental honors, was Chair of the International Affairs Society, and was elected a member of Phi Beta Kappa. He is a member of the Pacific Council on International Policy and a lifetime member of the US Geospatial Intelligence Foundation.

He currently lives in Manhattan Beach, CA with his wife, Laura, and goldendoodle, Winston.