COL Ryan O'Conner
Commander
196th Infantry Brigade

COL Ryan O'Connor graduated the Virginia Military Institute in 1996 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in English, receiving his commission as an Infantry Officer. COL O'Connor is a graduate of the Infantry Officer Basic and Advanced Courses, Combined Arms and Services Staff School, the Defense Language Institute, as well as the Airborne, Air Assault, and Ranger Schools. He holds a Master of Military Art and Science from US Army Command and General Staff College and a Master of Advanced Strategic Art from US Army War College.

COL O'Connor commanded 2nd Battalion, 35th Infantry, in the 25th Infantry Division and C Company, 1-508th IN (ABN), in the 173d Airborne Brigade. His staff, liaison, and teaching assignments span the tactical, operational, and strategic, including: 2nd Brigade, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault); 7th Army and US Army Europe; 173d Airborne Brigade; US Embassy Mexico City and La Escuela Superior de Guerra; 5/2 Stryker Brigade Combat Team; 2nd Brigade 2nd Infantry Division (SBCT); Infantry Branch, US Army Human Resources Command; 25th Infantry Division; Headquarters, US Army Pacific; Combined Joint Task Force - Horn of Africa; and Office of HQDA G3/5/7.

In addition to serving overseas in Germany, Italy, and Mexico, his four operational deployments include two with the 173rd Airborne Brigade: Iraq 2003-2004, as the Assistant Operations Officer; and Afghanistan 2005-2006, as an Airborne Rifle Company Commander. He returned to Afghanistan with 5/2 Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 2009-2010, as a Battalion Operations Officer and then Executive Officer. He served in East Africa, 2018-2019, as the CJTF-HOA J3.