Ryan D. Batchelor

Colonel Ryan D. Batchelor serves as Dean of the School of Strategic Force Studies at the Air Force Institute of Technology (AFIT), Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio, leading 42 faculty and staff members who develop Airmen, joint service professionals, and international partners for technologically competitive environments. The school graduates approximately 5,000 mid-to-senior level students annually through professional continuing education programs focused on nuclear surety, deterrence strategy, nuclear command and control communications (NC3), and cyberspace operations.

His educational background includes:

• Bachelor of Science in Computer Engineering, University of Central Florida (2003)
• Master of Computer Research and Information Technology Management, Webster University (2012)
• Multiple military professional development courses including Air War College (2022)

Colonel Batchelor's expertise centers on preparing military professionals for complex technological environments with emphasis on nuclear deterrence and cyberspace operations. His leadership spans three key departments: Nuclear Studies at Kirtland AFB, Cyberspace Studies at Wright-Patterson AFB, and NC3 Studies at Barksdale AFB. The school's curriculum directly supports national defense strategy through professional military education.

His distinguished military career includes numerous decorations:

• Defense Meritorious Service Medal
• Meritorious Service Medal with four oak leaf clusters
• Nuclear Deterrence Operations Service Medal

As Dean, Colonel Batchelor oversees an annual budget of approximately $2.9 million, managing academic partnerships across multiple installations. His leadership ensures programs remain responsive to evolving national security challenges in great-power competition environments. He previously served as Division Chief of Cyberspace Operations for Air Force Materiel Command, overseeing implementation of Cyber Tasking Orders for 80,000 warfighters across eight installations.

The School of Strategic Force Studies operates under his direction with physical locations at Wright-Patterson AFB (Ohio), Kirtland AFB (New Mexico), and Barksdale AFB (Louisiana), delivering both resident and distance learning programs to support strategic force development.