Ryan Blackburn is a native of central Ohio and an Air Force veteran. While serving on active duty from 2004-2010 as an Operations Intelligence Analyst, Ryan deployed to Iraq twice and once to Afghanistan. His first permanent duty assignment took him to Spangdahlem, Germany where he lived for two years supporting the Air Force European Command. The latter part of his military career was spent at Hill Air Force Base outside of Salt Lake City, Utah where he supported tactical level F-16 operations. He also had numerous temporary assignments including ones in Italy and Alaska.

After completing his service to the Air Force in 2010, Ryan worked in the finance and real estate industries. Ryan utilized his post-military education benefits to pursue a bachelor’s degree at The Ohio State University in Business Administration and then a graduate leadership certificate in Public and Non-profit Leadership from the John Glenn College of Public Affairs. He worked as a Veteran Peer Sponsor while at Ohio State, helping new veteran students acclimate to the collegiate atmosphere and providing guidance and resources to the student veteran population on campus.

That veteran interaction and assistance led to Ryan joining the State of Ohio Department of Veterans Services. Ryan worked as the Workforce Manager with the Ohio Department of Veterans Services from 2016-2022, where he directed a team of consultants across the state that assisted employers with hiring veterans. Ryan also worked strategically with national organizations to help Ohio become the premier destination for military veterans and their families.

Ryan currently resides in Lewis Center, Ohio with his wife, Allison, and their two sons, Parker and Evan.