Shawn Ryan

Shawn Ryan is a former U.S. Navy SEAL and host of the popular Shawn Ryan Show podcast and YouTube channel where he interviews veterans, military personnel, politicians, celebrities, and others about war experiences, mental health, current events, and more. The show has featured high-profile guests like Donald Trump, Erik Prince, and Jocko Willink, and ranked among Spotify's top podcasts in 2024.

Ryan served for nearly six years, including with SEAL Teams 2 and 8, with deployments to locations like Haiti and Iraq where he provided security for politicians. He enlisted at age 18, completed BUD/S training, and left the Navy around 2006.

After the Navy, he worked as a CIA contractor with the Global Response Staff (GRS), a paramilitary security unit often associated with Blackwater, participating in clandestine operations worldwide. His combined military and contractor service spanned about 14 years (roughly 2001–2015), with over 20 deployments.

He's also the founder and CEO of Vigilance Elite, a company offering tactical training, firearms courses, and apparel, aimed at civilians, law enforcement, and veterans. Ryan is an advocate for veteran mental health, transition support, and organizations like Veteran Advocacy Services.