In 1993, Ryan earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology from Jersey City State College (now New Jersey City University), where he was recognized as an Eastern College Athletic Conference scholar-athlete. While at Jersey City State College, Ryan interned as a social worker, providing services to those in need and those suffering from cognitive issues.

In August 1994, Ryan was hired as a police officer by the Clinton Township Police Department in Hunterdon County. He graduated from the Trenton Police Academy in January 1995 and went on to a distinguished career with the Clinton Township Police Department, having been promoted to both Sergeant and Lieutenant faster than any officer in the department’s history. He was recognized with the Hunterdon County ‘Chiefs’ Award’ in 1999 after the capture of a homicide suspect from Los Angeles, California during a routine traffic stop. In 2013, Ryan was solely responsible for securing the New Jersey State Association of Chiefs of Police (NJSACOP) accreditation for the Clinton Township Police Department, which to this day is the only form of law enforcement accreditation ever secured in Hunterdon County.

In May 1999, Ryan earned a Master’s Degree in Forensic Psychology from John Jay College of Criminal Justice (C.U.N.Y.) in Manhattan. In order to receive his Master’s Degree, Ryan volunteered four hundred (400) hours of his time at Hunterdon Behavioral Health, working with both adults and juveniles suffering from mental illness, personality disorders, and adjustment problems. While at John Jay, Ryan was admitted to Psi Chi, the National Honor Society in Psychology.

In 2003, Ryan graduated from Temple University’s Beasley School of Law, where he earned Outstanding Oral Arguments for his student group. He was admitted to the New Jersey Bar later that same year.

In 2004, Ryan’s article ‘Identification With The Aggressor: How Crime Victims Often Cope With Trauma’ was published in the FBI Law Enforcement Bulletin, an international publication. And his 2005 book Building a Successful Law Enforcement Career: Common Sense Wisdom For The New Officer is still being sold by Looseleaf Law Publications.

In July 2020, Ryan retired from the Clinton Township Police Department after nearly twenty-six (26) years of service and after having served as the department’s Officer-In-Charge for several years. While Officer-In-Charge, Ryan modernized the department’s policies and procedures and also took a strong stance against wasteful government spending and improper solicitation of funds by government officials.

Ryan has worked as a per diem attorney for several Hunterdon County law firms since 2004 and was also a long-time member of the Hunterdon County Bar Association. At one time, he was the only full-time police officer in the State of New Jersey who was also a full-time attorney. Thus, in addition to his nearly thirty years’ experience in criminal law, he also has eighteen years’ experience practicing estate planning, business law, and real estate law and also practices probate and guardianship law.

In March 2021, Ryan earned his New Jersey Security Officer’s certification (S.O.R.A.) through the New Jersey State Police ‘Private Detective Unit.’

Ryan grew up in Hunterdon County but has lived in Warren County for many years. He coached youth football and wrestling from 2012 to 2016. He is a devoted father who enjoys spending time with his family and attending his children’s sporting events.