Candidate bio
Meet Ryan Peterman
I’m running for Secretary of State because I believe in public service—and I believe we need more leaders who treat that responsibility with honesty, humility, and a sense of duty.
For over a decade, I served our country as a Naval Officer. I led sailors overseas, worked on defense policy in the Senate, and helped develop future officers at the Naval Academy. In each of those roles, trust mattered. Integrity mattered. And I learned that institutions only work when people believe the people in charge are worthy of that belief.
About Ryan
I grew up in Bettendorf, in a family full of teachers, veterans, and small business owners. From an early age, I was taught that public service matters—and that honor and integrity aren’t just words, they’re principles you’re expected to live out every day.
After high school, I attended the U.S. Naval Academy, commissioned as a Naval Officer, and earned my Wings of Gold as a Naval Aviator. As a helicopter pilot, I deployed overseas, flew missions around the world, and had the privilege of leading some of the finest young sailors in the fleet.
Later, I served on Capitol Hill as a Defense Fellow in the U.S. Senate, where I worked on national security issues and saw just how much public trust matters in government. I eventually returned to the Naval Academy, where I worked closely with Academy leadership and helped lead honor education—mentoring midshipmen and reinforcing a culture built on personal responsibility and integrity.
After fifteen years in uniform, I’m grateful to be back home in Iowa. Everywhere I go, I hear the same thing: people want steady leadership and a system they can trust.
I’m running for Secretary of State because I believe in that kind of leadership—quiet, steady, and grounded in service. I believe our elections should be fair, secure, and accessible. And I believe that trust in democracy is something worth fighting for.
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