Ryan Pickett’s journey from a young Marine Corps officer to a senior intelligence professional at the U.S. Army Aviation and Missile Command reflects a career of dedication, leadership and a strong commitment to service.
Pickett began his military career in 2004 when he joined the U.S. Marine Corps as an air intelligence officer. After completing Officer Candidate School and The Basic School at Quantico, Virginia, Pickett’s first assignment took him to the Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center located in Twentynine Palms, Calif. Shortly after he arrived, he immediately deployed to Iraq.
"I arrived on a Friday and was on a plane to Iraq by Sunday," Pickett recalled. "It was a fast-paced introduction to the Marine Corps, and I learned quickly how important my role in intelligence would be."
During his time in Iraq, Pickett worked with Unmanned Aerial Vehicles to provide vital intelligence to Marines on the ground.
"We were able to identify threats and save lives, not just for Marines, but for innocent civilians as well," he said.
One of his most memorable experiences was helping to rescue a civilian who had been kidnapped by insurgents. "It’s moments like those that stick with you — knowing you made a difference."
After seven years of service, which included multiple deployments and three years in the intelligence community, Pickett transitioned to civilian life in 2011, joining AMCOM’s G-2 intelligence division as a foreign intelligence officer. His work at AMCOM involves providing intelligence threat support to key weapons systems development.
"I moved to Alabama to be closer to family and to continue working in intelligence. AMCOM has allowed me to support critical missions that keep our Soldiers safe."
Today, Pickett leads the Tactical Missiles Team at AMCOM, overseeing intelligence operations for several project offices.
"It’s a different type of work than what I did in the Marine Corps," he explained. "Now, we’re focused on supporting the development of advanced weapons systems, and I get to work with an incredible team."
Reflecting on his time at AMCOM, Pickett emphasized the importance of leadership and teamwork.
"One of my philosophies is to hire people who could take over my job someday. I’ve been fortunate to work with great leaders and try to pass that on to my team."
Looking ahead, Pickett is committed to continuing his service at AMCOM and mentoring the next generation of intelligence professionals.
"I love coming to work every day because it feels like family," he said. "The work we do here has a real impact, and I’m proud to be part of it."