Staff Sergeant Ryan Reynolds

Upon graduating high school, unlike most of his peers who were going to college, Staff Sergeant Ryan Reynolds did not have a direction. He attempted the college route by enrolling in a local school but had to withdraw three weeks into the fall semester due to car troubles. This led him to a series of retail jobs in nearby Branson, Missouri, until one day he decided he wanted more out of life and thus enlisted in the U.S. Air Force.

While in the Air Force, Ryan gained direction and a sense of pride. He distinguished himself by earning early promotions and merit recognitions. His seven years of combined military service in the Air Force and Air National Guard instilled in him a strong work ethic and a feeling that no challenge is too great. After excelling in the military, Ryan decided to use the discipline learned there and apply it to academia.

Accordingly, he enrolled in the college of engineering at the University of Arkansas and obtained a Bachelor’s degree in civil engineering. Complementing his analytical skills gained from engineering, Ryan enrolled in graduate school at the University of Arkansas to pursue a Master’s degree in operations management. With these two degrees, Ryan plans on working with the Air Force as an engineer with a long-term goal of obtaining a PhD in public policy in the field of transportation.