Brendan Ryan

Brendan Ryan serves as the Executive Director of the National Counterterrorism Center (NCTC). In this role, he ensures the effective execution of national counterterrorism priorities by aligning personnel, resources, and mission activities across the Center, enabling the Director to focus on strategy, policy, and senior-level engagement.

Mr. Ryan brings more than 20 years of experience in the Department of War and the Intelligence Community. Prior to his current role, he served as Chief of Staff at NCTC, where he advised senior leadership, directed interagency coordination, and managed resources, personnel, and organizational priorities to enhance mission effectiveness.

Before entering civilian service, Mr. Ryan served in the United States Army Special Forces, with multiple combat deployments across the Middle East and Central Asia. As a Special Forces operator, he led partner force development, coordinated complex combat operations, and operated in high-risk, austere environments in support of U.S. national security objectives. He is a recipient of the Bronze Star Medal.

Mr. Ryan holds Bachelors of Arts in Economics and a Juris Doctor with honors.