Captain Ryan D. McCrillis graduated from the Naval Academy with a degree in Naval Architecture in 1998. After graduation he spent two years in the Navy sports program, sailing with the New York Yacht Club’s America’s Cup team, Young America.
Following the America’s Cup campaign, he reported to Pensacola, Florida, for flight training in the E-2C Hawkeye. He trained in Corpus Christi, Texas, and Meridian Mississippi, before reporting to Airborne Command & Control Squadron (VAW) 120. He was then assigned to VAW-121 “Bluetails,” in Norfolk, Virginia. He completed two cruises with the Bluetails and logged combat time supporting the Marines in the second battle for Fallujah before returning to VAW-120 as an instructor pilot.
At the 10-year mark, McCrillis was approved for a lateral transition to Engineering Duty Officer (EDO) and went to Naval Postgraduate School in Monterey, California, where he earned a Master’s Degree in Mechanical Engineering/Total Ship Systems Engineering.
His first assignment as an EDO was to Pearl Harbor Naval Shipyard and Intermediate Maintenance Facility (PHNSY & IMF), where he served as Deputy Project Superintendent for the planning and overhaul of USS Texas (SSN 775). During this project he completed the second half of a West Pacific patrol on USS North Carolina (SSN 777) to earn his EDO Dolphins.
His next assignment was to Norfolk Naval Shipyard where he worked on submarine and aircraft carrier projects before becoming the Production Resources Officer (Code 900).
McCrillis completed a tour as Chief Engineer onboard USS Carl Vinson (CVN 70), completing a West Pac Deployment that included a first-ever aircraft carrier visit to Vietnam, a RIMPAC exercise, and a homeport change to Bremerton to drydock the ship.
After a brief tour at Naval Air Force U.S. Pacific Fleet, he transferred to Hawaii to serve as the Maintenance Requirements Officer for the Pacific Fleet.
He returned to PHNSY&IMF and served as Resources Officer (Code 900) and Operations Officer (Code 300) focusing on simultaneous execution of three Virginia-class submarines.
McCrillis last served as the Primary Military Deputy for NAVSEA 04.
His personal decorations include five Meritorious Service Medals, two Navy Commendation Medals, two Navy Achievement Medals and numerous unit and campaign awards.