LCDR Amber Renae Ryan, USN
September 12, 1964 – August 25, 2022

A native of Roseburg, Oregon, LCDR Ryan enlisted in the Navy in from Seattle Washington in November 1982.  Following recruit training in Orlando, Florida, she attended Cryptologic Technician Communications “A” School in Pensacola, Florida.  After graduation as the honor graduate, she served subsequent Enlisted tours of duty at Naval Security Group Activity, Wahiawa Hawaii, Naval Security Group Activity, Adak Alaska, Naval Security Group Activity, Northwest Virginia, as a communications specialist. 

She was one of the first women to serve as Aircrew for Naval Reconnaissance Support Activity, Rota, Spain and as a Direct Support (Surface) deployer at Naval Security Group Activity, Northwest Virginia.  While stationed at Northwest, she was advanced to Chief Petty Officer and was selected for commissioning to the Cryptologic Limited Duty Officer Program.

Following commissioning to Ensign in July 1995, she reported to the staff of Commander, United States Atlantic Command for duty as the Signals Intelligence Branch Officer at the Joint Training Analysis and Simulation Center in Suffolk, Virginia.  In April 1998, she was transferred to USS Arthur W. Radford (DD 968) for duty at the Electronic Warfare Officer.  In January 2000, she was assigned to the staff of Commander, Naval Security Group Command where she worked in the Information Operations Department as the Offensive Information Operations Action Officer.  In April 2003, LCDR Ryan accepted orders to the Pentagon as the Special Assistant to the Director of Navy Information Operations.

LCDR Ryan earned her Associates of Arts degree from Anne Arundel Community College and her Bachelor of Science in Management Studies from the University of Maryland.

Her personal decorations include the Joint Commendation Medal, Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal (one gold star), Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal (three gold stars), Navy Good Conduct Medal (two bronze stars), and National Defense Medal, Southeast Asia Service Medal, Kuwait Liberation Medal and Kuwait Service Kuwait Medal. 

LCDR Ryan is married to Adam W. Schnitzer and together they are the proud parents of Ayden and Auburn Schnitzer.

After a 24 year US Navy career, she transitioned to the private sector where she found a second career as an engineer and program manager at the Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory.

RIP Shipmate.