Col. Ryan L. Stallsworth is the deputy commander of the 7th Bomb Wing, Dyess Air Force Base, Texas. He serves as second in command of the largest B-1B wing in the Air Force; responsible for the health and welfare of more than 14,500 active-duty members, civilian employees, and family members, providing combat mission ready B-1B aircraft, aircrew, combat support, and expeditionary Airmen for global taskings.
Col. Stallsworth entered the Air Force in May 2003 through North Carolina State University’s Reserve Officer Training Course program. He completed Meteorology training at Keesler Air Force Base in September 2003. Subsequently, he held various leadership positions within the weather officer community. From April 2005 to April 2008, he completed various flight training programs, ultimately qualifying him as a B-1B Weapon Systems Officer. Col. Stallsworth has more than 21 years of active-duty service with deep experience in bomber operations, strategic planning, and conventional and nuclear command and control. He has held a variety of leadership positions within the B-1 community and across the nuclear enterprise. Col. Stallsworth has served at Scott AFB, Ill., Dyess AFB, Texas, Naval Station Newport, R.I., Offutt AFB, Neb., and Santa Monica, Calif.
Col. Stallsworth deployed three times in support of OPERATION ENDURING FREEDOM, where he flew over 1,400 combat hours supporting close air support, non-traditional intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance, and dynamic targeting missions. He completed his first staff tour as Branch Chief, European area of responsibility and Campaign Plan Division, J5 Plans and Policy Directorate, United States Strategic Command, Offutt AFB, Neb. As the 9th Bomb Squadron commander, Dyess AFB, Texas, he led the only combat B-1 squadron in the 7th Bomb Wing, with over 50 elite B-1 aviators and support personnel, responsible for executing a 4,800 hour, $110 million flying program. He later served as an Air Force Fellow at RAND Corporation in Santa Monica, Calif., authoring several key reports on critical Department of Defense issues. Prior to his current position, Col. Stallsworth was the Chief, Command Centers Division, Global Operations Directorate, United States Strategic Command, Offutt AFB, Neb.
EDUCATION
2003 Bachelor of Science, Meteorology, North Carolina State University, Raleigh
2004 Air and Space Basic Course, Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala.
2009 Squadron Officer School, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
2010 Master of Business Administration, Amberton University, Dallas, Texas
2012 Air Command and Staff College, Maxwell AFB, Ala., by correspondence
2015 Master of National Security and Strategic Studies, Naval Command and Staff College, Newport, R.I.
2017 Joint Professional Military Education, Phase II, Joint Forces Staff College, Norfolk, Va.
2022 Air Force Fellow, RAND Corporation, Santa Monica, Calif.
ASSIGNMENTS
1. May 2003 – September 2003, Student, Weather Officer Course, 335th Training Squadron, Keesler Air Force Base, Miss.
2. September 2003 – August 2005, Deputy Flight Commander, 15th Operational Weather Squadron, Scott AFB, Ill.
3. April 2005 – October 2006, Joint Undergraduate Navigator Training, TRAINING SQUADRON 86, Naval Air Station Pensacola, Fla.
4. October 2006 – September 2007, Electronic Warfare Officer Training, 563rd Flying Training Squadron, Randolph AFB, Texas
5. September 2007 – April 2008, Student, B-1 Weapon Systems Officer Initial Qualification Course, 28th Bomb Squadron, Dyess AFB, Texas
6. April 2008 – November 2008, Ground Scheduler and B-1 WSO, 9th BS, Dyess AFB, Texas
7. November 2008 – November 2009, Squadron Executive Officer and B-1 WSO, 9th BS, Dyess AFB, Texas (March 2009 – Jun 2009, B-1 WSO, 9th Expeditionary Bomb Squadron, Al Udeid Air Base, Qatar)
8. November 2009 – July 2010, Assistant Flight Commander, 9th BS, Dyess AFB, Texas
9. July 2010 – July 2011, Flight Commander and B-1 Instructor WSO, 9th BS, Dyess AFB, Texas (July 2011 – December 2012, B-1 ISWO, 9th EBS, Al Udeid AB, Qatar)
10. July 2011 – September 2012, Flight Commander and B-1 Evaluator WSO, 9th BS, Dyess AFB, Texas (January 2013 – July 2013, B-1 Evaluator WSO, 9th EBS, Al Udeid AB, Qatar)
11. September 2012 – July 2013, Assistant Chief of Training and B-1 IWSO, 9th BS, Dyess AFB, Texas
12. July 2013 – October 2013, Chief of Student Flying and B-1 IWSO, 9th BS, Dyess AFB, Texas
13. October 2013 – July 2014, Chief, 7th Bomb Wing Command Post, Dyess AFB, Texas
14. July 2014 – July 2015, Student, Naval Command & Staff College, Naval Station Newport, Newport, R.I.
15. July 2015 – Jan 2017, Strategic Planner/Analyst, Plans & Policy Directorate, United States Strategic Command, Offutt AFB, Neb.
16. January 2017 – October 2018, Chief, Campaign Plan & Europe Branch, Plans & Policy Directorate, USSTRATCOM, Offutt AFB, Neb.
17. March 2019 – May 2019, Deputy Commander, 7th Operations Group, Dyess AFB, Texas
18. May 2019 – May 2021, Commander, 9th BS, Dyess AFB, Texas
19. Aug 2021 – May 2022, Air Force Fellow, RAND Project Air Force, Santa Monica, Calif.
20. May 2022 – May 2023, Mission Commander, Global Operations Directorate, USSTRATCOM, Offutt AFB, Neb.
21. May 2023 – July 2025, Chief, Command Centers Division, Global Operations Directorate, USSTRATCOM, Offutt AFB, Neb.
22. July 2025 – Present, Deputy Commander, 7th BW, Dyess AFB, Texas
SUMMARY OF JOINT ASSIGNMENTS
- July 2015 – October 2018, Chief, Campaign Plan & Europe Branch, United States Strategic Command/J56, Offutt AFB, Neb., as a major
- May 2022 – July 2025, Chief Command Centers Division, USSTRATCOM/J36, Offutt AFB, Neb., as a colonel
FLIGHT INFORMATION
Rating: master combat systems officer
Flight hours: more than 2,600 including more than 1,440 combat hours
Aircraft flown: T-6, T-1, T-39, E-6B, and B-1
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Defense Superior Service Medal
Defense Meritorious Service Medal
Joint Service Achievement Medal
Meritorious Service Medal
Air Force Commendation Medal with oak leaf cluster
Air Medal with four oak leaf clusters
Air Force Achievement Medal
Aerial Achievement Medal
Combat Readiness Medal
Afghanistan Campaign Medal with star
OTHER ACHIEVEMENTS
2003 Distinguished Graduate, North Carolina State Reserve Officer Training Course
2003 Distinguished Graduate, Weather Officer Course
2008 Distinguished Graduate, B-1 Initial Qualification Course
2009 Distinguished Graduate, Squadron Officer School
2015 Distinguished Graduate, College of Naval Command and Staff
2016 Foreign Area Officer Association Award for International Affairs, paper titled “U.S. Response to Chinese Claims in the South China Sea: Should We Consider a Long-Term Hedge Strategy?”
OCCUPATIONAL BADGES
Basic Meteorologist
Master Combat Systems Officer
PUBLICATIONS
“The Forces we Need: Building Multi-Capable Airmen to Enable Agile Combat Employment,” RAND Publications, Santa Monica, Calif., December 2023
EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION
Second Lieutenant May 31, 2003
First Lieutenant May 31, 2005
Captain May 31, 2007
Major October 1, 2013
Lieutenant Colonel October 1, 2017
Colonel June 1, 2023
(Current as of June 2025)