Ryan Kell enlisted in the Army for the first time in 1988, at the age of eighteen. He volunteered for and was deployed to Operation Desert Shield and Storm in 1990–1991, after which he was honorably discharged. Following an almost fifteen-year break in service, he reenlisted in 2006 and was deployed to Iraq during the 2007 Surge and again in 2009. After his final combat tour, this time to Afghanistan in 2014, he was medically retired in late 2017.

Ryan has earned a Bachelor of Science degree in sociology from the University of Oregon and a master’s degree in social work from Portland State University. He now lives peacefully with his wife Mary in Honolulu.

His combat awards include the Combat Infantryman Badge, the Meritorious Service Medal, three Army Commendation Medals, and two Meritorious Unit Commendations. Ryan has earned the Gold (expert) German Army Shooting Award: the Schützenschnur, and The US Army Expert Marksmanship (rifle) Award, the US Army Parachutist Badge, the Air Assault Badge, as well as Foreign Army Jump Wings.