STEPHEN T. GANYARD (COL, USMC, RET.)
Senior Advisor
President of Avascent International
Former U.S. Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Political-Military Affairs
Steve Ganyard is President of Avascent International, a global advisory firm focused
on helping clients identify and capture strategic opportunities around the world.
His civilian and military career includes experience in a variety of high-level
leadership, managerial and staff positions dealing with large organizations, complex
technologies, strategic planning, foreign policy, intelligence, and global operations.
He is also a Founding Director of Global Shale Partners, an investment and advisory
firm focused on North American unconventional oil and gas, and related sectors.
Additionally, he is a co-founder of China Beige Book™, the largest and most
comprehensive quarterly private survey conducted on the Chinese economy.
In government service, Mr. Ganyard served as Deputy Assistant Secretary of State in
the Bureau of Political-Military Affairs. In this position he was responsible for a budget
of more than $5 billion related to global political-military programs, strategic
political-military planning, and security policy issues. His duties also included the
overall management and guidance of US Government security assistance programs,
policies and budgets, as well as serving as the primary interface between the
Departments of State and Defense. He was awarded a Department of State Superior
Honor Award for his service.
Previously, he served as the Chief of Staff to the Counselor to the Secretary of State,
a position involving the management of a foreign policy portfolio that included the
broader Middle East, Asia, and energy security.
While on active military duty he served as the Military Assistant to the Deputy
Secretary of Defense, as well as in the Joint Chiefs of Staff. As a Marine Corps fighter
pilot, Mr. Ganyard received two decorations for combat valor. He held command at
both the Squadron and Air Group level, amassing more than 4,200 flight hours in
twelve different types of tactical aircraft.
A graduate of Northwestern University and Johns Hopkins University’s School of
Advanced International Studies (SAIS), Mr. Ganyard has published articles and opinion
pieces in The New York Times and other publications and professional journals.
He also serves as a consultant to the Institute for Defense Analyses, and is a regular
on-air contributor for ABC News for political-military and aviation issues.