Summary
Overview
Work History
Education
Skills
Accomplishments
Certification
Language Skills
Training
Availability
Desired Locations
Interests
Timeline
Generic

Ryan Knight

Converse,TX

Summary

Strategic international affairs professional and U.S. Army veteran with 10+ years of experience in cross-cultural engagement, diplomacy, and interagency coordination. Proven ability to build and sustain international partnerships, manage dignitary visits, and provide cultural and mililtary-political insights in high-stakes environments. Strong communicator with a background in both government and the arts, blending creativity with tactical leadership. Holds a Defense Language Proficiency in Japanese and active DoD secret security clearance.

Overview

12
12
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification

Work History

Leader & Chief Operations Officer

U.S. Army North 323D Army Band
07.2023 - 06.2025
  • Led with distinction as the Leader & Chief Operations Officer of the 323D Army Band, overseeing a team of forty musicians in the execution of five hundred performances across southern Texas, the United States, and Mexico. These events enhanced Army recruiting efforts, strengthened community engagement, and contributed to quality-of-life initiatives.
  • Designed and implemented a leader development program recognized as the best in the organization. This program emphasized current doctrine and technical expertise, resulting in a steady pipeline of Non-Commissioned Officers selected for advanced leadership roles, including Platoon Sergeant, First Sergeant, and Battalion Sergeant Major.
  • Planned, evaluated, and executed comprehensive communication strategies in collaboration with the organization’s Public Affairs and the Office of the Chief of Public Affairs. Strengthened relationships with local partners, civic organizations, and educational institutions—such as the University of Texas—leading to a 35% increase in total outreach within one year.
  • Expanded the unit’s contribution to Department of the Army recruiting objectives by initiating six recruiting tours across southern Texas, facilitating participation in National Educator tours, and directing targeted social media recruitment campaigns.
  • Collaborated with Installation Management Command to develop a strategic approach for band training facilities, resulting in cost savings of $6.7M for the organization. Successfully negotiated the consolidation of all band facilities into a single headquarters building, addressing planning compliance issues, mitigating safety concerns, improving accountability, and fostering greater cohesion within the unit.
  • Enhanced the unit’s readiness posture for high—level State Funerals by 80%, establishing alliances across Army Commands and maintaining clear communication with the Joint Task Force—National Capital Region tasking authority. These efforts ensured full compliance with mission requirements for this solemn duty.
  • Hours per week: 50
  • Supervisor: LTC Julie Woellner (803-741-6631)
  • Okay to contact this Supervisor: Yes

Leader & Chief Operations Officer

U.S. Army, 10th Mountain Division
01.2020 - 07.2023
  • Operated at the Chief Warrant Officer 3 level as a Warrant Officer 1, demonstrating exceptional leadership in building cohesive musical performance teams across all levels. Cultivated junior leaders' critical thinking skills and inspired mastery of foundational musicianship. Effectively executed training management strategies aligned with the Commanding General's priorities, ensuring predictability for Soldiers and Families. Extended the band's influence beyond Fort Drum, directly contributing to USAREC recruiting and retention initiatives.
  • Applied mission command principles to lead small musical performance teams in simultaneous, decentralized execution of multiple engagements, boosting morale, fostering esprit de corps, and representing the 10th Mountain Division's excellence. Refocused band operations to align with recruiting objectives, strengthening relationships with local recruiters and generating over 1,000 leads.
  • Directed the band through twelve retirement ceremonies, 12 Basic Leader Course graduations, two change-of-command seasons, the North Country Carol winter concert series, and over 150 community outreach events, expanding the band's influence beyond the local community while supporting Army recruiting initiatives. Led short-notice pre-deployment activities to validate expeditionary deployment Mission Essential Tasks.
  • Demonstrated unwavering leadership amid severe COVID constraints, increasing the division band's vehicle fleet by 200% to support future operations. Under his guidance, the band's readiness rating surged to 98%, ensuring operational effectiveness. Successfully balanced a constrained operational environment with Soldier and Family welfare by managing the strongest and most active Soldier and Family Readiness Group in the organization.
  • Hours per week: 50
  • Supervisor: LTC Peter Young (315-921-8758)
  • Okay to contact this Supervisor: Yes

Supervisor & Chief Operations Officer

U.S. Army Japan
07.2016 - 06.2019
  • Served as Supervisor, leading a 40-member unit through two hundred humanitarian and civic performances across Japan. Served as the senior leader and primary career counselor, ensuring professional development and operational excellence for all employees.
  • Provided liaison between USARJ and higher headquarters, JGSDF, host nation public, and government agencies.
  • Developed and maintained working relations with Foreign Area Officers, U.S. Embassy staff, JGSDF, MSDF, and USFJ.
  • Awarded the Defense Cooperation Award 3rd Class from the Chief of Staff, SDF for representing USARJ to the prime minister during SDF International Marching Festival and Air Show.
  • Participated in battle staff contingency exercises with USARJ.
  • Participated in English Language Exchange between USARJ and JGSDF at Kodaira.
  • Selected as Leader and Chief Operations Officer of the unit, successfully leading for 13 months. Earned recognition from the Sergeant Major of the Army and secured the Music Performance Team of the Year award, sponsored by the U.S. Army School of Music.
  • Led the band in supporting two prime minister-level and 40 governor-level bilateral engagements, demonstrating professionalism and diplomatic engagement skills at the highest levels.
  • Hours per week: 50
  • Supervisor: COL (R) Stephen Grabski (904-814-3778)
  • Okay to contact this Supervisor: Yes

Division Chief/Recruiting Liaison

U.S. Army Recruiting Command/3rd Recruiting Brigade
09.2013 - 07.2016
  • Served as the primary liaison between U.S. Army Recruiting Headquarters, the divisions, and field recruiters, ensuring accurate and timely communication regarding vacancies and incentives. Safely traveled across eleven states, covering 614,000 square miles, conducting auditions, and delivering oral presentations at colleges, universities, and high schools. Coordinated recruiting efforts with key stakeholders, including the Department of the Army Staff, Chief of Army Bands, Human Resources Command, and the U.S. Army School of Music.
  • Leveraged expertise, in-depth knowledge, and exceptional sales acumen to assess and enlist 70 applicants into the U.S. Army, consistently exceeding corporate quotas with an average attainment rate of 105% annually. Spearheaded the recruitment of the first vocalist in the history of the Army Bands, with the applicant achieving instructor-level proficiency upon enlistment.
  • Planned and coordinated five tours utilizing Washington D.C. musicians, effectively increasing awareness of the Program. Demonstrated financial acumen by maximizing resources, achieving program objectives within a reduced budget, delivering the same return on investment at under $12K per year while securing an enlistment contract per tour. Generated a total of 1,093 leads, significantly expanding the prospect database.
  • Trained 382 branch supervisors, division heads, and leaders at the U.S. Army School of Music on current and relevant recruiting practices, enhanced overall effectiveness across the branches and contributed to shared understanding and deeper collaboration among the team.
  • Hours per week: 50
  • Supervisor: James Donahue, 1SG (R) (910-603-9735)
  • Okay to contact this Supervisor: Yes

Education

Master's degree - Music Performance

Michigan State University
East Lansing, MI
01.2002

Certificate - Japanese Language

Japan Center For Michigan Universities
Hikone, Shiga
08-2001

Bachelor's degree - Music Education

Indiana State University
Terre Haute, IN
01.2000

Skills

  • Relationship building
  • Conflict resolution
  • Strategic planning
  • Motivating teams
  • Project planning
  • Staff management
  • Public speaking

Accomplishments

  • Defense Cooperation Medal 3rd Class from JGSDF Chief of Staff, 2019
  • Represented USARJ as commander at the 2018 JGSDF International Marching Festival
  • Led teams of musicians into Kyogamisaki, Japan for goodwill and strategic effects missions between 2016-2018
  • Selected by USARJ to serve as guest performer with the JGSDF Central Band on three occasions.
  • Assisted USARJ with COOP 2018 activities.
  • Led team of 15 Soldiers during Operation Tomodachi deployment in 2011.

Certification

  • Educator's License for the state of Indiana K-12 (General, Choral, Instrumental)
  • Educator’s License for the state of Texas K-12 Music

Language Skills

Japanese
Spoken Advanced
Written Advanced
Read Advanced

Training

  • Operation Tomodachi, April 2011, Fukushima, Japan
  • Served as a critical member of the U.S. Army Japan Band staff during OPERATION TOMODACHI, a bilateral joint disaster relief mission providing humanitarian assistance to Japan in response to the devastating earthquake and tsunami on March 11th, 2011.
  • Facilitated daily coordination meetings with Japan Ground Self-Defense Force counterparts as a translator, enabling seamless communication between U.S. and Japanese forces. Through these translation efforts, gained invaluable experience in interagency coordination, joint task force organization, and multinational cooperation. Developed expertise in Overseas Humanitarian, Disaster, and Civic Aid mechanisms, consequence management, media relations, and strategic communication.

Availability

  • Job Type: Permanent, Temporary, Detail, Seasonal, Summer, Multiple, Internships, Telework
  • Work Schedule: Full-time, Part-time, Shift work, Intermittent, Multiple Schedules

Desired Locations

Japan

Interests

  • Okinawan Karate
  • Music
  • Participating in cultural exchange programs and homestays
  • Exploring famous landmarks, historical sites, and cultural attractions in a new destination

Timeline

Leader & Chief Operations Officer

U.S. Army North 323D Army Band
07.2023 - 06.2025

Leader & Chief Operations Officer

U.S. Army, 10th Mountain Division
01.2020 - 07.2023

Supervisor & Chief Operations Officer

U.S. Army Japan
07.2016 - 06.2019

Division Chief/Recruiting Liaison

U.S. Army Recruiting Command/3rd Recruiting Brigade
09.2013 - 07.2016

Master's degree - Music Performance

Michigan State University

Certificate - Japanese Language

Japan Center For Michigan Universities

Bachelor's degree - Music Education

Indiana State University

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