Sergeant Major Ryan graduated from Marine Corps Recruit Depot, San Diego, CA, in April 1993. Following recruit training; Private First Class Ryan attended Marine Combat Training at Camp Pendleton, CA and Supply Administration School at Camp Johnson, NC.
Private First Class Ryan reported to his first command, Headquarters Company, 1st Marine Regiment, in July 1993 and performed duties as a property clerk. In November 1995, Lance Corporal Ryan received orders to Combat Assault Battalion, 3rd Marine Division, Okinawa, Japan. Upon his arrival to Okinawa, he was promoted to Corporal and was assigned the billets of Fiscal Chief and Platoon Sergeant.
In November 1996, he was assigned to Expeditionary Warfare Training Group Pacific, Coronado, CA, where he served as assistant Supply Chief and Platoon Sergeant. In July 1999, Sergeant Ryan received orders to Recruiter School. Following graduation, he received orders to Recruiting Sub Station (RSS) Burnsville, Recruiting Station (RS) Twin Cities, MN. In October 2000, he was selected as the 9th Marine Corps District “Rookie Recruiter,” and Western Recruiting Region “Recruiter of the Year” and was meritoriously promoted to the rank of Staff Sergeant. In June 2001, Staff Sergeant Ryan transferred to RSS Coon Rapids, MN, where he completed the remainder of his recruiting tour as the Station Non-Commissioned Officer in Charge.
In June 2003, Staff Sergeant Ryan transferred to Marine Tactical Air Command Squadron 38, 3d Marine Aircraft Wing, to serve as Supply Chief. During this tour, he deployed to Iraq twice, serving as the Squadron's Supply Officer in support of Operation IRAQI FREEDOM II and Operation IRAQI FREEDOM 05-07. Returning from his second deployment as a Gunnery Sergeant, he was selected to instruct at the Staff Noncommissioned Officer Academy. In March 2007, he reported to SNCOA, Camp Pendleton, and served as an instructor for the Career Course.
In March 2009, he was promoted to First Sergeant and reported to 2d Battalion, 11th Marines as the First Sergeant for Battery F. In July 2010, the Battery attached to Battalion Landing Team (BLT) 1/1 and deployed with the 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit. While deployed, he served as the Senior Enlisted Leader for the BLT detachment aboard the USS Boxer. In February 2012, First Sergeant Ryan reported to Inspector-Instructor duty with Marine Wing Support Squadron 471, Minneapolis, MN, where he served as the Site First Sergeant and interim Squadron Sergeant Major.
In July 2014, he was frocked to the rank of Sergeant Major and assigned as the Battalion Sergeant Major for 1st Supply Battalion in Camp Pendleton, CA. In June 2017, he was selected to attend the Marine Corps University Command and Staff College. Following his graduation in June of 2018, he received orders to Marine Aviation Training Support Group 22, Corpus Christi, Texas, where he served as the Senior Enlisted Leader.
In May 2021, Sergeant Major Ryan reported to Combat Logistics Regiment 17, where he currently serves as the Regimental Sergeant Major.
Sergeant Major Ryan's personal awards and academic achievements include the Meritorious Service Medal w/ two Gold Stars, Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal w/ Gold Star, and the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal w/ four Gold Stars. Sergeant Major Ryan holds a B.A. with honors in Management from American Military University and a Masters in Military Studies from the Marine Corps University Command and Staff College.