CAPT Richard Ryan

FORCE CHAPLAIN

05 August 2021 Capt. Richard Ryan is a native of Nashville, Tennessee. In May 1996, he graduated from Belmont University with a Bachelor of Arts. He earned his Master of Divinity at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in May 2000 and completed his Doctor of Ministry at Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in December 2009. He also has completed Joint Professional Military Education Phase One through the Naval War College.

Ryan has served as Senior Pastor at Valley View Baptist Church in Nocona, Texas and Senior Pastor at First Baptist Church in Westmoreland, Tennessee.

Chaplain Ryan accepted a commission into the United States Navy in March 2001, and began Chaplain School in June of the same year. His tours in the Fleet include Naval Submarine Support Command, Pearl Harbor, Hawaii (2001-2004); Riverine Group Two, Little Creek, Virginia (2010-2012); USS San Diego (LPD 22), San Diego, California (2012-2014); Deputy Fleet Chaplain, U.S. Fleet Forces, Norfolk, Virginia (2014-2016); and Director, Surface Forces Atlantic Ministry Center, Norfolk, Virginia (2016-2020). Richard is currently the Commander, Naval Surface Force, U.S. Pacific Fleet Force Chaplain in San Diego, California.

Other tours include Second Marine Division, Camp Lejeune, North Carolina (2004-2007) during which he deployed with 1st Battalion, 6th Marines to Fallujah, Iraq in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. He also served as chaplain for Second Assault Amphibious Battalion. As chaplain for the U.S. Coast Guard Integrated Support Command (2007-2010), he ministered to Coast Guard personnel throughout 17 states. There he provided ministry during multiple natural disasters including: a bridge collapse in Minneapolis, floods throughout the mid-west, Hurricane Ike in Texas, and a major earthquake in Haiti.

His personal awards include the Meritorious Service Medal, Navy/Marine Corps Commendation Medal, the Coast Guard Commendation Medal, the Navy/Marine Corps Achievement Medal, the Coast Guard Achievement Medal, and multiple other unit and service citations and awards.

Chaplain Ryan is ordained through the Southern Baptist Convention and endorsed through the North American Mission Board.