Lieutenant Colonel Ryan C. Anness is a native of Beaufort, South Carolina. He attended Tarleton State University in Stephenville, Texas, graduating in 2008. He was commissioned in August 2008 and reported to The Basic School, graduating in March 2009. He then attended the Field Artillery Officer Basic Course at Fort Sill, Oklahoma.
Upon completion of training, Lieutenant Colonel Anness reported to Battery C, 1st Battalion, 12th Marines and deployed to Okinawa, Japan in support of the Unit Deployment Program as a Guns Platoon Commander. In October 2010, he reported to Company A, 1st Battalion, 3d Marines and deployed to Helmand Province, Afghanistan from March to December 2011 in support of Operation Enduring Freedom, serving as a Fire Support Officer, Joint Terminal Attack Controller, and Civil Affairs Team Leader. Following deployment, he returned to 1st Battalion, 12th Marines and served as the Battery A Executive Officer.
In May 2012, Lieutenant Colonel Anness was assigned to Fort Sill, Oklahoma as a Fire Support and Joint Fires Instructor in the Officer Instruction Branch. In February 2014, he assumed command of the Marine Battery, Marine Detachment. After completing the Field Artillery Captain’s Career Course in November 2015, he reported to 2d Battalion, 11th Marines and assumed command of Headquarters Battery. In October 2016, he served as the Fire Support Officer for 2d Battalion, 5th Marines and deployed with the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit.
In May 2017, Lieutenant Colonel Anness reported to Manpower Management Officer Assignments, Manpower and Reserve Affairs, where he served as the Company Grade Combat Arms Monitor, Deputy Ground Lieutenant Colonels Monitor, and MAGTF Planner Monitor until June 2020. He then attended the Naval War College, graduating in June 2021 with a Master of Arts in Defense and Strategic Studies.
Following school, Lieutenant Colonel Anness reported to 2d Battalion, 10th Marines as the Battalion Operations Officer and later assumed command of Headquarters Battery, 10th Marine Regiment in June 2022. In May 2023, he reported to Marine Barracks Washington as the Operations Officer and became the Executive Officer in January 2024. In July 2025, he reported to Okinawa, Japan and assumed duties as the Deputy Fires and Effects Coordinator for III Marine Expeditionary Force.
Lieutenant Colonel Anness assumed command of 3d Battalion, 12th Marines in May 2026.