[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 89 (Tuesday, June 5, 2007)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1186]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                   IN HONOR OF COLONEL MARY GENE RYAN

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. ELTON GALLEGLY

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, June 5, 2007

  Mr. GALLEGLY. Madam Speaker, I rise in honor of my friend Colonel 
Mary Gene Ryan, who is retiring after 31 years of military service.
  Colonel Ryan has served at both military bases in my district, 
Vandenberg Air Force Base and Naval Base Ventura County. She is 
retiring from the 30th Medical Group at Vandenberg as the Individual 
Mobilization Augmentee to the Commander.
  After graduating with a bachelor's degree in nursing, Colonel Ryan 
entered the U.S. Air Force as a Second Lieutenant. She earned her 
master's degree in public health 4 years later as she worked her way up 
the ranks and gained experience and accreditation as a second flight 
nurse, a medical crew director and flight nurse instructor in the C-9, 
C-141 and C-130 while stationed at Rhein-Main Air Base, Germany.
  She returned to the states as Officer In Charge of Environmental 
Health at Wilford Hall Medical Center in Texas, then made her 
transition to California as Chief of Environmental Health at Edwards 
Air Force Flight Test Center. By this time she had been promoted to 
captain and soon after, to major.
  When the Air Force dissolved the Environmental Health Nurse career 
field, Colonel Ryan transferred to the California Air National Guard at 
what is now Naval Base Ventura County. She served at Naval Base Ventura 
County as Nurse Executive and Executive Officer and was promoted to 
Lieutenant Colonel.
  She later transferred to the Air Force Reserve and became Chief of 
Nursing Services at March Air Reserve Base. She was promoted to full 
Colonel on April 1, 2004.
  While pursuing a successful medical military career, Colonel Ryan 
also worked in the civilian field and co-founded her own business, 
MGRyan & Co., Inc., a full-service safety and health consulting firm. 
She also served as Manager of Health & Safety for the County of Ventura 
and as Director of Occupational Health at Peterson Medical Clinic in 
Oxnard, California.
  And, if that were not enough, Colonel Ryan is also a successful wife 
and mother. She and Dr. Robert E. Ryan III have three children, 24-
year-old Michael, 21-year-old Jessica, and 16-year-old Matthew.
  Madam Speaker, I know my colleagues will join me in congratulating 
Colonel Mary Gene Ryan on her retirement from military service and 
thank her for her many years of dedication to the military and the 
health and welfare of the men and women who serve in the Air Force, Air 
Force Reserves, and California Air National Guard.

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