Dr. Lauren Ryals was raised in Littleton, Colorado and grew up attending Drums Along the Rockies and various marching band competitions all along the Rocky Mountain Region. When she was in middle school, she remembers visiting the Sheep Wagon in Denver, which is how the Troopers former merchandise was sold and history display was  proudly set up at all summer performances. She fell in love with the history of the corps, having grown up in the West, the Troopers story felt like her story. In high school her band director was very supportive of drum corps, being a Cavalier Alumnus himself and encouraged her to audition for the Troopers in 2001. She marched every summer after that in the front ensemble and aged out of the corps in 2005, as a percussion captain. 
Currently Dr. Ryals is the Director of Bands at Delaware Valley University in Pennsylvania. Dr. Ryals earned her Doctor of Philosophy in Music Education from Temple University. Dr. Ryals also holds a Master of Music Education degree from the VanderCook College of Music and a Bachelor of Science degree in Music Education from the University of Colorado. In the public-school setting, Dr. Ryals taught secondary instrumental music in Colorado for over 15 years until her first university appointment at West Chester University in 2019. 
Dr. Ryals attributes her perseverance, dedication to musical excellence, and true grit to the Troopers. Being a Trooper is what means the most, and she strives to live every day with Honor, Loyalty, and Dedication. 

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