COL Ryan Nesrsta is a native of Friendswood, Texas and a graduate of the United States Military Academy (USMA) at West Point, Class of 2002. Upon graduation he was commissioned as an Aviation Officer and attended flight school. COL Nesrsta’s first operational assignment was with 7th Battalion (BN), 101st Aviation Regiment, 101st Airborne Division, Fort Campbell, Kentucky. During his time at Fort Campbell, COL Nesrsta served as HHC Executive Officer, and Flight Platoon Leader in Charlie Company, 7-101st AVN BN.
In October of 2003 he was assigned as Company Commander and Flight Platoon Leader of Bravo Company, 2nd Battalion, 4th Combat Aviation Brigade (CAB) in Fort Hood, Texas. In 2005 he deployed in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF) 05 07. Following his deployment, COL Nesrsta attended the Aviation Captain’s Career Course and Chinook Maintenance Test Pilot Course in Fort Rucker, Alabama. He was then assigned to 4th CAB in Fort Hood Texas. On 15 December 2007, COL Nesrsta assumed Command of Bravo Company, 2-4 AVN REGT (GSAB) where he deployed in support of OIF 08-10.
Following command COL Nesrsta was selected for the Army Experimental Test Pilot Program and was assessed into the Army Acquisition Corps. In 2012 he was assigned to the Army Test and Evaluation Command, Redstone Test Center, and served as an Experimental Test Pilot and Chief of the Aviation Systems Test Division. In 2015 he was assigned to the Program Executive Office (PEO), Aviation. While assigned to PEO Aviation, he served as an Assistant Product Manager (APM) for Foreign Military Sales in the Cargo Helicopter Project Office, and as an APM for the CH-47 Modernization, Block II development program. In 2016, COL Nesrsta was nominated to serve in the office of the Assistant Secretary of the Army, Acquisition Logistics and Technology, as a Department of the Army System Coordinator. He was subsequently assigned as a Command Select Product Manager for the MH 60M, Special Operations Forces, Black Hawk helicopter, Technology Applications Project Office (TAPO) in Fort Eustis, VA from 2018-2020. He then served as the Executive Officer to the Deputy Commanding General for Acquisition & Systems, Army Futures Command. His current assignment is as Project Manager of the Utility Helicopters Project Office at PEO Aviation.
COL Nesrsta’ s Military and Civilian Education includes the Aviation Officer Basic Course, Aviation Captain’s Career Course, SERE-C, Aviation Maintenance Manager’s Course, the CH-47 Maintenance Test Pilot Course, Acquisition Basic Course, US Army Command and General Staff College, and he is a graduate of the U.S. Naval Test Pilot School, Class 142. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering from USMA, a Master of Science in Systems Engineering from the Naval Postgraduate School, and a Master of Science in National Resource Strategy from the Eisenhower School. COL Nesrsta is a Master Army Aviator with more than 2,000 hours in 25 models of rotary and fixed wing aircraft. He is qualified in the OH-58A/C, CH-47D/F, UH/HH-60A/L/M, LUH-72A, and C- 12C/D/V aircraft.
COL Nesrsta is an Army Acquisition Corps Member and is DAWIA certified in Program Management, Test and Evaluation, and Engineering. COL Nesrsta’ s awards and decorations include the Master Army Aviator Badge, Airborne Badge, Air Assault Badge, Army Staff Badge, Bronze Star Medal, Meritorious Service Medal (5OLC), Air Medal (NUM2), Army Commendation Medal (2OLC), Army Achievement Medal, the Meritorious Unit Award (1OLC), National Defense Service Medal, Iraq Campaign Medal, Global War on Terror Service Medal, Humanitarian Service Medal, Army Service Ribbon, and the Overseas Service Ribbon (NUM2).