Congressman Pat Ryan

Pat is a fifth-generation Ulster County native, decorated combat veteran, small businessman, and County Executive. Pat’s life has been shaped by a desire to serve his community. Growing up in Kingston, his mom, Patti, was a public school teacher at Chambers Elementary School, and his father, Kevin, ran a small business in Kingston. They taught Pat that we have an obligation to give back to our community and to take care of everyone in it – especially the most vulnerable among us.

After graduating from Kingston High School, Pat attended West Point and served two combat tours in Iraq as an Army intelligence officer. After leaving the military, he founded a small technology company, which he grew to over 150 employees. As an executive, Pat managed a $25 million annual budget and worked to build partnerships with government and nonprofit organizations. He implemented worker-focused policies like paid family leave and created a jobs training program for veterans without college degrees, equipping them with tech skills to ensure they had high-paying jobs.

Elected in 2019, Pat has served as Ulster County Executive, leading the county through a once in a century pandemic, spearheading the effort to transform the former IBM site after decades of sitting dormant, providing direct financial relief to small businesses and residents, building supportive and affordable housing, re-investing in mental health services, all while never raising taxes.

Pat lives in Gardiner with his wife, Rebecca, two children, and their rescue cats. Pat not only has a clear understanding of what needs to be done, but the track record to achieve it.