Command Sgt. Maj. Ryan R. Lawson is a native of Eminence, Indiana. He joined the Army July 2002 and completed Basic and Advanced Individual Training at Fort Jackson, South Carolina. Lawson has held numerous leadership positions to include Squad Leader, Shop Foreman, Team Leader, Station Commander, Battalion Operations NCOIC, First Sergeant, Senior Instructor, Division Chief and Operations Sergeant Major.
Lawson’s assignments include: 63rd Engineer Company, Fort Benning, Georgia, Grand Blanc and Benton Harbor Station, Michigan Great Lakes Recruiting Battalion; Station Commander at Bangor, Maine, New England Recruiting Battalion; Operations NCOIC for New England Recruiting Battalion; First Sergeant at Lehigh Valley Company, Harrisburg Recruiting Battalion; Senior Instructor, Division Chief at the United States Army Recruiting an Retention College where he was responsible for the training of nine Senior Command level courses; and the Operations Sergeant Major for the Salt Lake City Recruiting Battalion.
His military and civilian education includes: Sergeants Major Academy, Senior Leaders Course, Advanced Leaders Course, Basic Leaders Course, USAREC Company Commander First Sergeant Course, Guidance Counselor Operations Course, Basic Army Instructor Badge, Station Commander Course, Army Recruiter Course, Recruiting Operations Officer Course, Recruiting Pre-Command Course, Health Care Recruiting Officer-In-Charge Course, Unit Prevention Leader Course, Equal Opportunity Course, Master Resilience Trainer Course, and Combat Life Savers Course. Lawson holds a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from Columbia Southern University College and an associate in applied science business management from Vincennes University.
His Military awards and decorations include: Four Meritorious Service Medals, six Army Commendation Medals, two Army Achievement Medals, five Army Good Conduct Medals, National Defense Service Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, Noncommissioned Officer Professional Development Ribbon, Army Service Ribbon, Overseas Service Ribbon, Senior Instructor Badge, Army Gold Recruiter Badge, and the Recruiting Medallion of Excellence.