Lieutenant Colonel Ryan Lippert
Syracuse University’s Air Force Reserve Officer Training Corps (AFROTC) welcomes its new commanding officer, Lt. Col. Ryan Lippert, to central New York this semester. Lippert was born in Illinois, grew up in Colorado, and has adopted Mandeville, Louisiana as his unofficial hometown. Lippert is an identical twin. His brother is also a Lieutenant Colonel in the Air Force. Joining him in Syracuse is his wife, a former service pilot, and her three children, two boys and a girl, 10, 8 and 6 years old.
Lippert was previously stationed with the Royal Air Force (RAF) Lakenheath, an air base near the village of Lakenheath in Suffolk, England. In addition to flying the F-15E Strike Eagle, he also served in numerous positions, most recently as commander of the 48th Operations Support Squadron. In this role he was responsible for over 230 airmen, civilians and contractors who kept the airfield open and supported the members of the three fighter squadrons.
For Lippert, the F-15E Strike Eagle fulfilled a dream that he had had since the seventh grade. After graduating from high school, Lippert attended the US Air Force Academy and was lucky enough to be selected for pilot training. He learned to fly at Columbus Air Force Base, Mississippi. And after a year of training, he was selected to stay as a flight instructor. During his career he has taught hundreds of airmen to fly.
Lippert says the best pilots take on the role of lifelong learning. “When we start training, we find that we never stop learning,” says Lippert. “I think successful Air Force officers and registered executives have lifelong learning because they realize they don’t have all the answers.”
The same lifelong learning mentality works well for leadership, says Lippert. “Everyone is a little different. We don’t have a cookie cutter approach because they are all different and we have to be able to adapt our management style to them. “
Lieutenant Colonel Lippert with his wife Shannon.
In his role as AFROTC commander, he hopes to convey the values that make effective airmen, such as integrity, loyalty and trustworthiness. The willingness to accept constructive feedback is also important, says Lippert. “The best pilot is not always the smartest,” says Lippert. “I think that doesn’t just apply to flying, but also to teaching. Recognizing when you are struggling and being humble enough to ask for help will go a long way. “
Lippert’s vision for Syracuse University’s AFROTC is to continue to lead, inspire, empower and develop thinking leaders and aggressive learners ready to lead. “You may not have all the answers, but you have to work really hard to find those answers. And that means asking questions. That means doing a little research, and that goes back to this lifelong learning. “
Students interested in careers in the aerospace industry could potentially consider AFROTC a great first step. Ultimately, Lippert’s goal is for the AFROTC cadets he will command to be the best versions of themselves.
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