Ryan began his career in aviation as a student in the late 1990’s, and by the mid 2000’s he entered professional aviation as a flight instructor. That was quickly followed by professional charter flying in King Air 90’s and an airline pilot with Trans States Airlines, on the Embraer 145 Regional Jet.

     Following the economic decline of 2008, Ryan re-entered general aviation. During that period, he worked and was promoted to assume the roles of Chief Flight Instructor and General Manager of his home flight school and airport. In those roles, he operated a full airframe and power plant maintenance facility with a FAR part 145 repair station certificate, operated a CATS testing center for testing of new members of the medical field and FAA Airmen Knowledge Testing, Fixed Based Operations with hangar facilities, and the flight school with its fleet of 19 aircraft. Ryan and his wife Barbara incorporated their first business together to hold their aircraft dealer license, and facilitated the needs of people wanting to enter and exit aircraft ownership and provide contract pilot services.

    2015 was the beginning of a shift of philosophy and dedicated pursuit of aviation education. Ryan was offered a position at Trans States Airlines again, but this time as a captain and flight instructor. He qualified on the airline’s curriculums to teach ground and simulator portions of new hire training and captain and first officer recurrent training. In 2019. Ryan has also begun his work qualifying on curriculum as a ground instructor with Republic Airways. During that time, he was responsible for the first weeks of a new hire pilot training and providing the pilot’s perspective during flight attendant recurrent training. At the same time, he was qualified to instruct and teach new hire and first-time instructors for the airline pilot curriculums.

     Ryan was also welcomed by University of Central Missouri as an Adjunct Professor of Aviation. In that role he was able to teach undergraduate and graduate students using his experience and provide mentorship. Through the past 10 to 15 years, it has become clear that Ryan wants to dedicate the rest of his professional life to the mentorship and success of his students and cultivate the next generation of aviation leaders.