
Mick Ryan is a retired major general in the Australian Army. A graduate of the Johns Hopkins University School of Advanced International Studies and the U.S. Marine Corps University Command and Staff College and School of Advanced Warfighting, he is a passionate advocate of professional education and lifelong learning. He has commanded at platoon, squadron, regiment, task force, and brigade level. In January 2018, he assumed command of the Australian Defence College in Canberra, Australia. In 2021 he was an adjunct scholar at the Modern War Institute. Mick was made a member of the Order of Australia (AM) for his leadership of Australia’s first reconstruction task force in Afghanistan. He completed his 35-year career with the Australian Army and transitioned to the Army Reserve as a major general on February 27, 2022. His book, War Transformed, was published on February 15, 2022, by U.S. Naval Institute Books.
In the News
Ukraine hints it blew up Russian missiles in occupied Crimea
Mick Ryan in NBC News — March 21, 2023
To Counter China, U.S. and Allies Seek to Make Militaries ‘Interchangeable’
Mick Ryan in The Wall Street Journal — March 12, 2023
A report into Australia's military is about to be handed down. Now a bigger challenge is ahead
Mick Ryan in ABC News — January 30, 2023
German resistance to sending Leopards will be long remembered
Mick Ryan in Engelsberg Ideas — January 22, 2023
Two battles in eastern Ukraine lay bare the differences between Putin and Zelenskyy's strategies
Mick Ryan in ABC News — January 16, 2023
Russia’s New Theory of Victory
Mick Ryan in Foreign Affairs — December 14, 2022
Russia-Ukraine War Drone Attacks Hit Russia for 2nd Straight Day
Mick Ryan in New York Times — December 6, 2022
Opinion: Why Putin would want a truce
Mick Ryan in CNN — November 24, 2022
All content by Mick Ryan
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A New Defense Review for Australia
Commentary by Mick Ryan — April 27, 2023
Book Event: White Sun War: The Campaign for Taiwan
Event by Charles Edel , Eliot A. Cohen , Emily Harding , and Mick Ryan — March 30, 2023
AUKUS Submarine Agreement: Historic but Not Yet Smooth Sailing
Commentary by Mick Ryan — March 17, 2023
Report Launch: Growing Challenges, Rising Ambitions: AUSMIN 2022 and Expanding U.S.-Australia Cooperation
Event by Charles Edel , Matthew P. Goodman , Mick Ryan , Kelsey Hartigan , and Seiyeon Ji — December 1, 2022
The Clock Is Ticking: The Australian Defense Review and Time
Commentary by Mick Ryan — September 6, 2022
The Task Ahead for Rapid Capability Enhancement in Australian Defense
Commentary by Mick Ryan — August 4, 2022