Ryan supports McKinsey’s advanced-industries work (with a focus on global aerospace, defense, and space companies) and leads the firm’s cash and space work. With more than 20 years of military and consulting experience, he specializes in corporate strategy, managing major business and operational transformations, working-capital improvements, building clients’ capabilities, and M&A advisory.
Ryan has advised senior executives on organic and inorganic growth, cost restructuring, technology and product strategy, improving manufacturing operations and supply chains and reducing risk, and business-to-government program capture excellence. He has also led several large postmerger integration efforts and oversees Radar by McKinsey, the firm’s government market analytics solution.
Before joining McKinsey, Ryan worked at another global consulting firm. Prior to starting his consulting career, he was a space- and missile-operations officer in the US Air Force. He continues to serve as a reservist, advising senior leaders on nuclear-policy matters at US Air Force headquarters.
Ryan has extensively studied warfare, military strategy and leadership, international security, and space policy and doctrine. He has published in defense and science journals, including Defense News, War on the Rocks, and the Astronomical Journal.
Published work
“The role of space in driving sustainability, security, and development on Earth,” McKinsey & Company, May 2022
“Space around the globe,” McKinsey & Company, April 2022
“Space: Investment shifts from GEO to LEO and now beyond,” McKinsey & Company, January 2022
“R&D for space: Who is actually funding it?,” McKinsey & Company, December 2021
“Expectations versus reality: Commercial satellite constellations,” McKinsey & Company, November 2021
“Rethinking inventory management in defense,” McKinsey & Company, May 2021
Past experience
Booz & Company
Partner
United States Air Force
Officer
Education
Auburn University
MBA
The Johns Hopkins University
BA, physics