- Ryan Heritage brings over 35 years of experience leading complex operations from the tactical to strategic level
- He most recently served as director of operations at U.S. Cyber Command
- Heritage will lead GDIT’s cyber center of excellence and help develop the company’s cyber workforce
General Dynamics Information Technology has appointed retired Maj. Gen. Ryan Heritage as vice president of full-spectrum cyber. Heritage will work across the General Dynamics business unit to apply the company’s cyber capabilities to government missions spanning all domains, while also heading its cyber center of excellence and supporting workforce development efforts, GDIT said Monday.
As GDIT taps 35-year cyber veteran Ryan Heritage to unify its cyber capabilities amid rising AI-driven threats, the Potomac Officers Club’s 2026 Intel Summit on Sept. 24 will tackle these same challenges in its “Cybersecurity in the Age of Agentic AI” panel. Save your seat now!
What Will Ryan Heritage Do at GDIT?
Heritage will unify GDIT’s cyber expertise, bringing together capabilities across the company to support federal customers facing an increasingly complex threat landscape. His responsibilities extend beyond external missions. He will also oversee the growth and development of GDIT’s internal cyber workforce, positioning the company to build long-term capacity in a domain where demand for skilled personnel continues to outpace supply.
His appointment comes as cyber threats become faster and more sophisticated with the rise of AI, placing new pressure on federal agencies to modernize their defenses. GDIT has made recent strides in this space, including a $1.3 billion contract to deliver enterprise IT and cybersecurity support to the Army National Guard and a $120 million task order to implement zero trust architecture across 187 U.S. Air Force bases worldwide.
What Did GDIT Leadership Say About the Appointment?
Ben Gianni, senior vice president and chief technology officer at GDIT, emphasized Heritage’s operational pedigree and the urgency driving the appointment.
“Government agencies need mission-ready and adaptive cyber solutions faster than ever,” Gianni said. “For decades, Ryan has executed the nation’s most sensitive missions at the highest levels of command. His expertise will enable us to further strengthen our cyber capabilities and help our customers stay ahead of evolving threats.”
“As cyber threats grow exponentially and become more complex every day, the margin for error is shrinking,” Heritage said. “GDIT’s cyber expertise runs deep, and we have experienced employees across the company who tackle the hardest mission problems every day. I look forward to bringing that expertise together and enabling the rapid delivery of integrated solutions across all domains.”
What Experience Does Ryan Heritage Bring to the Role?
Heritage spent more than 35 years in the military, leading operations at every level, from tactical field environments to senior strategic commands. Most recently, he served as director of operations at U.S. Cyber Command, where he oversaw full-spectrum joint and combined cyberspace operations and managed cyber readiness across the Department of War.
Heritage also commanded the Marine Corps Forces’ Cyber, Space and Information Commands, leading thousands of personnel globally and driving the integration of cyber, space and information capabilities across the force.
