Ryan Schwankhart
Greater Nashville
Summary
Senior Executive, Principal Technical Analyst, and former RAND Project Lead with 35+ years of leadership across the Department of Defense, Department of State, NATO, and partner-nation institutions. Expert in large-scale operations management, strategic policy development, global sustainment, and defense institution reform, with a proven record guiding multi-million-dollar programs and modernizing complex logistics and readiness systems. Led major RAND research portfolios in defense strategy, logistics modernization, force posture, and international security, publishing 30+ influential studies that inform decision-makers across OSD, the Joint Staff, partner MoDs, NATO, and U.S. interagency partners. Served as the executive–level logistics and digital sustainment lead for large-scale defense logistics programs as overall project, contract, and implementation lead. Proven record advising U.S. Government stakeholders, prime contractors, and Ministries of Defense on enterprise information systems development across Iraq, with planned expansion to OSC-I Northern Affairs / Ministry of Peshmerga Affairs (MoPA). Recognized by U.S. and partner-nation leadership for translating LMS vision into governed, funded, and executable national programs, integrating policy, training, infrastructure, and change management at scale.
Overview
25
25
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Principal Technical Lead, Institute for Security Governance, Logistics Policy and Plans
RAND Corporation
12.2016 - 11.2025
- Served as lead architect for the MoD Reform Roadmap (FY25–FY26), embedding logistics digitalization within national policy, training, and resourcing frameworks to ensure LMS adoption was institutional rather than tool-centric.
- Led Iraq MoD LMS implementation in direct alignment with OSC-I and Northern Affairs priorities, institutionalizing sustainment modernization through synchronized LMS deployment, policy codification, and governance oversight.
- Lead table-top exercises that identified National Communications System (NCS) integration to enable LMS connectivity, supporting distributed nodes, e-warehouse data synchronization, and command-level logistics development of MoD LMS Implementation, integrating system rollout with workforce training, institutional reform, and sustainment governance.
- Designed a tiered LMS training curriculum for Iraq MoD warehouse, supply, and logistics personnel, covering.
- Designed and recorded training needs assessments (TNA) across MoD depots, warehouses, and supply units to identify skill gaps, literacy constraints, and organizational readiness issues to inform role-based training tracks aligned to MoD organizational levels.
- Lead ISG advisor to OSC-I, DSCA, NMI, and Iraqi MoD leadership to sequence training delivery with system fielding and pilot implementations.
Principal Technical Analyst, Department of Defense Sustainment Policy and Plans
RAND Corporation
12.2013 - 11.2025
- Senior Principal Technical Analyst leading 20+ large-scale research projects (up to $25M portfolios) across defense strategy, global logistics, and international security; applied advanced quantitative modeling, scenario simulation, and qualitative research frameworks to produce data-driven insights for operational and policy decisions.
- Published author/co-author of 30+ RAND reports and policy briefs presented to Pentagon Staff; Joint Staff; U.S. Commands in Europe, Middle East, and Africa; NATO; and interagency leaders.
Director of Logistics, Executive Staff Officer / Support Operations Officer
160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment (SOAR)
05.2007 - 01.2013
- Led global support missions, sustainment, and inventory oversight for four special mission unit - critical supply chains supporting Joint Operational Commands, leveraging optimization tools to manage stock levels and reduce urgent resupply requests by roughly 20%.
- Implemented accountability standards for U.S. Central Command audits overseeing $500M in classified assets, achieving 98% audit compliance and training 40+ staff on inventory controls and reporting.
- Awarded Night Stalker Association (NSA) Officer of the Year (2012) in recognition of superior leadership, growth-focused mentorship, and significant contributions to unit performance and organizational advancement during combat operations.
Commander, B/801st Support Battalion / Combat Support Roles (OEF/OIF)
101st Airborne Division (Air Assault)
01.2001 - 08.2007
- Commanding Officer of combat activities in Iraq, supervising a network supporting U.S. Forces.
- Developed and implemented mission-critical training and operational plans supporting a 750-person task force, achieving zero casualties over sustained combat operations (200+ missions) and earning the Bronze Star Medal for meritorious service.
Education
Master of Science - Industrial Engineering
Murray State University
01.2007
Skills
- Quantitative Modeling and Analysis
- Scenario Planning
- Predictive Analytics Integration
- Performance optimization
- Systems development lifecycle management
- Project management
Certification
- Six Sigma Black Belt - Georgia Tech / GE (USSOCOM)
- Project Management Professional (PMP) (USASOC)
- Contracting Officer Representative (CoR)
Timeline
Principal Technical Lead, Institute for Security Governance, Logistics Policy and Plans
RAND Corporation
12.2016 - 11.2025
Principal Technical Analyst, Department of Defense Sustainment Policy and Plans
RAND Corporation
12.2013 - 11.2025
Director of Logistics, Executive Staff Officer / Support Operations Officer
160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment (SOAR)
05.2007 - 01.2013
Commander, B/801st Support Battalion / Combat Support Roles (OEF/OIF)
101st Airborne Division (Air Assault)
01.2001 - 08.2007
Master of Science - Industrial Engineering
Murray State University
CORE COMPETENCIES
- Logistics Management System (LMS) Implementation
- Iraq MoD Institutional Capacity Building (ISG / DSCA)
- Curriculum & Training Development (Warehouse & Supply Personnel)
- DoD / DoS Strategic Planning & Force Readiness
- Institutional Reform, Security Cooperation & International Capacity Building
- AI-Enabled Monitoring & Modeling and Predictive Analytic Integration
- Multinational Logistics Coordination & COE Engagement
- Policy Level Planning for EUCOM, CENTCOM, AFRICOM, and PACOM
CLEARANCE
TS/SCI