Ryan S. Halawi serves as the Political and Security Advisor for the American Task Force on Lebanon (ATFL), where he leads in-country coordination, political engagement, and security-focused liaison work in Lebanon. Based on the ground, he supports ATFL’s strategic initiatives by engaging with Lebanese political institutions, the Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF), international partners, and U.S. officials to advance stability, institutional resilience, and US–Lebanon relations.
Ryan is a Sergeant in the United States Marine Corps with over seven years of service. He has supported multinational exercises and served in liaison capacities across the Middle East, working alongside US and partner forces in complex operational environments. His experience spans civil–military coordination, operational roles, cross-cultural engagement, and advising senior leaders in high-pressure settings. Born in the United States to Lebanese parents from the South of Lebanon, Ryan spent many of his summers in Lebanon and remains connected to its people and diaspora. His background in national security, diplomacy, and community engagement informs his work at ATFL, particularly his focus on strengthening cooperation between US institutions and their Lebanese counterparts.
Ryan holds a B.A. in Political Science from the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), and plans to pursue a law degree with long-term interests in public service, foreign policy, and national security.