Lt Col Garrett Rybak is Assistant Professor and Director of Personnel in the Department of Management at the United States Air Force Academy. Prior to his current position, he served as the Deputy Chief of the Future Operations and Sensitive Activities Division (A35), Headquarters Air Mobility Command, Scott AFB, IL. There he leveraged his operational expertise and academic training to lead the division and multiple operational planning teams to develop executable operational plans in response to emerging global crises. Lt Col Rybak has experience in the C-130H and C-130J Hercules aircraft as a pilot and maintenance officer.

Lt Col Rybak holds a Bachelor of Science in Systems Engineering Management from the U.S. Air Force Academy, a Master of Business Administration from the University of Mississippi, and a Doctor of Philosophy with a Marketing concentration from the University of Arkansas. His research interests surround the public policy implications for front-of-package and restaurant menu promotions for consumer health behaviors and perceptions.

Ph.D., Business Administration – Marketing, Sam M. Walton College of Business, University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, AR (2022)

M.B.A., School of Business Administration, University of Mississippi, Oxford, MS (2015)

B.S., Systems Engineering Management, Department of Management, U.S. Air Force Academy, Colorado Springs, CO (2008)

Deputy Chief, Future Operations and Sensitive Activities Division (A35), Directorate of Operations, Strategic Deterrence, and Nuclear Integration (A3), HQ Air Mobility Command, Ill. (August 2022 – June 2025)

Ph.D. Student, University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, Ark. (August 2019 – August 2022)

Instructor of Management, Department of Management, U.S. Air Force Academy, Colo. (July 2017 – August 2019).
Assistant Maintenance Operations Officer, Aircraft Maintenance Officer in Charge, and C-130J Aircraft Commander, 317th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron and 40th Airlift Squadron, Dyess Air Force Base, Texas (May 2014 – June 2017)

Executive officer and C-130H Aircraft Commander, 36th Airlift Squadron, Yokota Air Base, Japan (July 2011 – August 2014).

Air Force Meritorious Service Medal

Air Force Commendation Medal (1 “C” Device and 2 Oak Leaf Clusters)

Aerial Achievement Medal (1 Oak Leaf Cluster)

Air Medal (1 Oak Leaf Cluster)

U.S. Air Force Academy Department of Management’s Rookie of the Year (2018)

36th Airlift Squadron’s Pilot of the Year (2013)

U.S. Air Force Academy Brian Bullard Memorial Award Recipient (2008)

Research interests include consumer behavior and decision-making regarding consumer health and well-being issues related to food consumption and financial behaviors. Current research examines the public policy implications for consumer responses to nutrition and processing labeling claims as well as sustainability information on food packages, restaurant menus, and other promotions.