Ryan Thomas is a Supervisory Transportation Security Inspector with the Surface Operations division of the Transportation Security Administration (TSA). Responsible for overseeing the Houston Field Office, he holds security oversight of surface modes of critical transportation infrastructure: highway, rail, pipeline, and transit, and supports the U.S. Coast Guard in its maritime security. He leads a team of dedicated security professionals who provide security initiatives for surface transportation operators, subject to Title 49, Code of Federal Regulations, Subchapter D. He is a strong advocate of industry partnership and has identified ways to bridge gaps between regulatory compliance and industry operations, aiming to identify voluntary low/no cost options to industry operators. He believes, by incorporating a holistic whole-of-community approach: physical, cyber, vetting, and partnerships, strong security outcomes that provide value to all security stakeholders can be achieved.

Ryan brings nearly two decades of security, investigations, and customer service leadership to his role. His area of focus has been training and exercise facilitation with industry partners, ensuring stakeholders incorporate threat awareness and vulnerability mitigation in their operational risk management strategies. From 2019 to 2023, Ryan served as the Houston Maritime Sector Lead, developing key partnerships with national supply chain leaders, utilizing exercises and training to raise the bar of security within the region.

Prior to joining DHS, Ryan was a Security Manager for the City University of New York’s Public Safety Department, overseeing the uniformed officer workforce providing access control, patrol, investigation, and executive protection for all stakeholders and assets of the University.

Ryan graduated summa cum laude with Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice from the City University of New York’s John Jay College of Criminal Justice in New York, and has recently been working toward leadership and cybersecurity education, completing a Leadership Development Program at George Mason University and earning a CompTIA Security+ certification in Cybersecurity.