Retired Brigadier General Kevin Ryan to Direct Belfer Center Research

CAMBRIDGE, Mass. -- Kevin Ryan, a retired brigadier general with extensive experience in political-military affairs, missile defense, intelligence, and US-Russian military relations, has been selected to become the new executive director for research at Harvard Kennedy School's Belfer Center of International Affairs, director Graham Allison announced today.

Ryan was a senior fellow with the Belfer Center from 2005 to 2008 and was vice president of business development at iRobot Corporation from 2008 to 2009.  He returned to the Belfer Center in September 2009 to lead the Center's U.S.-Russia Initiative to Prevent Nuclear Terrorism, which seeks to improve joint US-Russian understanding of the threat of nuclear terrorism and actions to prevent a successful nuclear attack by terrorists.

 "Kevin Ryan brings extensive military experience to the executive director role and will be critical in helping the Belfer Center pursue solutions to the major international security challenges we face," Belfer Center Director Graham Allison said. "His leadership experience includes both high-level military and public policy roles, making him an ideal person for the position."

Ryan was U.S. defense attaché in Moscow 2001 to 2003 and speaks fluent Russian. He has served as chief of staff for the Army's Space and Missile Defense Command and as Senior Regional Director for Slavic States in the Office of Secretary of Defense. In his last active duty assignment, Ryan was Deputy Director for Army Strategy, Plans and Policy in the Pentagon.

During his first tour with the Belfer Center, Ryan led the Center's efforts to analyze and assess the impact of US military organizational constraints on the prosecution of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. 

"What I admire about the Belfer Center is that it's not enough to have a good idea or make a good point," Ryan said. "The Center considers something successful only when an idea is turned into policy and is being implemented: deeds over words. That appeals to a military guy."

He replaces Eric Rosenbach, who will become managing director of national security for the Markle Foundation.

The Belfer Center is the hub of the Harvard Kennedy School's research, teaching, and training in international security affairs, environmental and resource issues, and science and technology policy.

The Center has a dual mission: (1) to provide leadership in advancing policy-relevant knowledge about the most important challenges of international security and other critical issues where science, technology, environmental policy, and international affairs intersect; and (2) to prepare future generations of leaders for these arenas. Center researchers not only conduct scholarly research, but also develop prescriptions for policy reform. Faculty and fellows analyze global challenges from nuclear proliferation and terrorism to climate change and energy policy.