Ryan P. McDermott is an executive in the aerospace and defense industry and a former senior Pentagon official, specializing in national security policy, finance, and government relations. A US Army veteran, he served from 2000 to 2006, leading a platoon into combat with the 3rd Infantry Division during the 2003 invasion of Iraq. He is a recipient of the Bronze Star Medal and earned the Ranger tab and Combat Infantryman Badge. Following military service, McDermott transitioned to Wall Street and Lehman Brothers before its 2008 collapse.A West Point graduate, McDermott holds an MBA from the Darden Graduate School of Business at the University of Virginia and an MA in security studies from Georgetown University's Walsh School of Foreign Service.