Lt Col Ryan “Giggles” Sealy is the Commander, Air Force Rescue Coordination Center (AFRCC), Air Forces Northern (AFNORTH), Tyndall AFB, FL. On behalf of the Commander, U.S. Northern Command, the AFRCC executes DoD responsibilities within the National Search and Rescue (SAR) Plan in support of domestic needs and international treaty commitments executing the responsibilities of SAR Mission Coordinator. The incredible team he leads accomplishes their 24/7/365 mission by coordinating federal SAR resources in response to air, ground, and maritime-based distress beacons and requests from other federal, tribal, state, and local governments to recover distressed persons across the contiguous 48 states. Additionally, the AFRCC provides civil SAR education throughout the country leading the Basic Inland SAR Course as well as the Inland SAR Planning Course in cooperation with the National SAR School, U.S. Coast Guard Training Center, Yorktown, VA. Finally, the AFRCC collaborates with federal agencies and international partners to modernize SAR efforts and develop innovative SAR capabilities.

Lt Col Sealy is a 2006 graduate of the United States Air Force Academy. He completed Undergraduate Navigator Training in 2007 and served as a HC-130P and HC-130J Combat Systems Officer. Lt Col Sealy served as both an Instructor and Evaluator, and has held positions in Operations, Safety and Standards & Evaluations at the Squadron, Group, Wing level. Additionally, he served as a joint staff officer supporting Operations and Joint Personnel Recovery at NATO Allied Air Command. Lt Col Sealy grew up in South Carolina and is happily married with 3 young children.

Lt Col Sealy is a Senior Navigator with over 2,500 flight hours in a variety of aircraft & over 500 hours in combat, serving in Operation ENDURING FREEDOM, Operation INHERENT RESOLVE, Operation ODYSSEY DAWN as well as peacetime operations across North and Central America. Prior to his tenure at the AFRCC, Lt Col Sealy was the Executive Office and Military Assistant to the Deputy Chief of Staff for Operations at NATO Allied Air Command.

EDUCATION
2006 Bachelor of Science, Systems Engineering Management, United States Air Force Academy, Colorado Springs, CO
2013 Squadron Officer School, Maxwell Air Force Base, AL
2013 Master of Business Administration/Management Accounting, Liberty University
2015 Air Command and Staff College (via correspondence), Maxwell Air Force Base, AL

ASSIGNMENTS
1. June 2006 – July 2007: Undergraduate Combat Systems Officer (CSO) Training, Randolph AFB, TX
2. August 2007 – January 2008: Student, C-130 Navigator Training, Little Rock, AR
3. January 2008 – August 2008: Student, HC-130P Combat Systems Officer Training, Kirtland AFB, NM
4. August 2008 – March 2014: HC-130P Instructor/Evaluator CSO, Resource Advisor, and Standardization and Evaluation Chief, 71st Rescue Squadron, Moody AFB, GA
5. April 2014 – October 2014: Student, HC-130J Combat Systems Officer Training, Kirtland AFB, NM
6. October 2014 – July 2015: HC-130J CSO, Chief of Weapons and Tactics, 79th Rescue Squadron, Davis-Monthan AFB, AZ
7. July 2015 – June 2016: HC-130J CSO, Flight Commander, 563d Operations Support Squadron, Davis-Monthan AFB, AZ
8. June 2016 – March 2018: HC-130J Instructor/Evaluator CSO, Standardization and Evaluation Chief, Assistant Director of Operations, 79th Rescue Squadron, Davis-Monthan AFB, AZ
9. March 2018 – October 2018: HC-130J Instructor/Evaluator CSO, 23rd Wing OL-A Chief of Safety, Davis-Monthan AFB, AZ
10. October 2018 – August 2021: Senior Joint Personnel Recovery Staff Officer, Executive Officer to Deputy Chief of Staff for Operations, Ramstein AB, Germany
11. August 2021 – July 2023 – Director of Operations, Air Force Rescue Coordination Center, Tyndall AFB, FL.
12. July 2023 - present – Commander, Air Force Rescue Coordination Center, Tyndall AFB, FL.

FLIGHT INFORMATION
Ratings: Senior Combat Systems Officer/Navigator
Flight Hours: 2,523 total flying hours, over 500 in combat
Aircraft Flown: T-43, C-130E, HC-130P, HC-130J

MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Defense Meritorious Service Medal
Meritorious Service Medal
Air Medal with five Oak Leaf Clusters
Aerial Achievement Medal with one Oak Leaf Cluster
Air and Space Commendation Medal with one Oak Leaf Cluster
Afghanistan Campaign Medal

EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION
Second Lieutenant – May 31st, 2006
First Lieutenant – May 31st, 2008
Captain – May 31st, 2010
Major – June 1st, 2016
Lieutenant Colonel – September 1st, 2021