Col. Ryan D. Strong is Commander, 171st Air Refueling Wing, Pittsburgh Air National Guard Base, Coraopolis, Pennsylvania, to include the wing’s geographically separated unit, the 258th Combat Airfield Operations Squadron in Johnstown, Pennsylvania. As the Wing Commander, he is responsible for all aspects of the wing’s mission and administration to include: managing and supervising the wing and its subordinate units, ensuring combat readiness in the mobilization missions of wing units, and the operation and maintenance of the Air National Guard property and facilities at Pittsburgh International Airport and the Johnstown-Cambria County Airport.
Col. Strong graduated from Baker University in 1998 with a Bachelor of Science in Accounting. In September 1999 he joined the 190th Air Refueling Wing and subsequently earned a commission from the Academy of Military Science in September 2001. He then graduated from Specialized Undergraduate Pilot Training in April 2003. Since that time, Col. Strong has served in a variety of positions within the 190th Air Refueling Wing, to include Inspector General and command at the squadron and group levels within both the Operations and Maintenance organizations. Prior to assuming his current position, Col. Strong was the 190th Maintenance Group Commander.
Col. Strong is a command pilot with over 5,300 total hours as an instructor and evaluator. He has participated in Operations Iraqi Freedom, Enduring Freedom, Inherent Resolve, Freedom Sentinel, and Restore Hope.
EDUCATION
1996 Associates Degree, Butler County Community College, El Dorado, Kan.
1998 Bachelor of Science, Accounting, Baker University, Baldwin City, Kan.
2001 Academy of Military Science, McGhee-Tyson Air National Guard Base (ANGB), Knoxville, Tenn.
2003 Specialized Undergraduate Pilot Training, Laughlin Air Force Base (AFB), Del Rio, Texas
2006 KC-135 Aircraft Commander Upgrade Course, Altus AFB, Okla.
2008 Squadron Officer School, Maxwell AFB, Ala., by correspondence
2009 KC-135 Central Flight Instructor Course, Altus AFB, Okla.
2010 Aircraft Mishap Investigation Course, Kirtland AFB, N.M.
2011 Combat Crew Tactics School, Rosecrans ANGB, Mo.
2011 USAF Weapons Instructor Course, Nellis AFB, Nev.
2014 Air Command and Staff College, Maxwell AFB, Ala., by correspondence
2018 Air Mobility Command Nuclear Leadership Course, Scott AFB, Ill.
2019 Inspector General Course, Kirtland AFB, N.M.
2021 Air War College, Maxwell AFB, Ala., by correspondence
2022 Safety Board President Course, Andrews AFB, Md.
2022 Command Leadership Course, Andrews AFB, Md.
2023 Director of Mobility Forces (DIRMOBFOR) Qualification Course, Hurlburt Field, Fla.
2023 USNORTHCOM & USSTRATCOM DIRMOBFOR Emersion Course, Scott AFB, Ill.
ASSIGNMENTS
1. September 1999 – August 2001, Student Flight Trainee, 190th Air Refueling Wing, Forbes Field ANGB, Topeka, Kan.
2. August 2001 – September 2001, Student, Academy of Military Science, Knoxville, Tenn.
3. September 2001 – April 2002, Student Pilot, 117th Air Refueling Squadron, Forbes Field ANGB, Topeka, Kan.
4. April 2002 – April 2003, Student, Specialized Undergraduate Pilot Training, Laughlin AFB, Texas
5. May 2003 – July 2011, KC-135 Pilot, 117th Air Refueling Squadron, Forbes Field ANGB, Topeka, Kan.
6. July 2011 – December 2011, Student, USAF Weapons Instructor Course, Nellis AFB, Nev.
7. December 2011 – December 2012, KC-135 Pilot, 117th Air Refueling Squadron, Forbes Field ANGB, Topeka, Kan.
8. December 2012 – February 2014, Aircrew Training & Tactics Weapons Officer, 190th Operations Support Flight, Forbes Field ANGB, Topeka, Kan.
9. February 2014 – January 2017, Chief of Scheduling/Wing Tactics officer/Evaluator Pilot, 190th Operations Group, Forbes Field ANGB, Topeka, Kan. (October 2015-November 2015, Detachment Commander, 506th Expeditionary Air Refueling Squadron, Anderson AFB, Guam)
10. January 2017 – October 2018, Chief, Wing Plans & Programs, 190th Air Refueling Wing, Forbes Field ANGB, Topeka, Kan.
11. October 2018 – May 2019, Inspector General, 190th Air Refueling Wing, Forbes Field ANGB, Topeka, Kan.
12. May 2019 – August 2020, Commander, 190th Maintenance Squadron, Forbes Field ANGB, Topeka, Kan.
13. August 2020 – October 2021, Deputy Commander, 190th Maintenance Group, Forbes Field ANGB, Topeka, Kan.
14. October 2021 – April 2024, Commander, 190th Operations Group, Forbes Field ANGB, Topeka, Kan.
15. April 2024 – October 2025, Commander, 190th Maintenance Group, Forbes Field ANGB, Topeka, Kan.
16. October 2025 – present, Commander, 171st Air Refueling Wing, Pittsburgh ANGB, Coraopolis, Pa.
FLIGHT INFORMATION
Rating: command pilot
Flight hours: more than 5,300
Aircraft flown: T-37, T-1A, KC-135D, KC-135E, KC-135T, KC-135R
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Air Force Meritorious Service Medal with three oak leaf clusters
Air Force Air Medal with two oak leaf clusters
Air Force Commendation Medal with oak leaf cluster
Air Force Achievement Medal with oak leaf cluster
PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS AND ASSOCIATIONS
Lifetime member, National Guard Association of the United States
Lifetime member, National Guard Association of Kansas
Lifetime member, Reserve Officers Association
EFFECTIVE DATE OF PROMOTION
Second Lieutenant Sept. 21, 2001
First Lieutenant Sept. 21, 2003
Captain Sept. 21, 2005
Major June 25, 2010
Lieutenant Colonel Jan. 8, 2016
Colonel Nov. 30, 2022
(Current as of October 2025)