Official U.S. Navy website - Commander Naval Surface Force, U.S. Pacific Fleet

His initial sea assignment was as Damage Control Assistant on USS INGRAHAM (FFG 61) from 1996 to 1998, where he was deployed to the Arabian Gulf. Following his tour in INGRAHAM, he was assigned as Navigator on USS CHANDLER (DDG 996) from 1998 to 1999, where he completed a counter narcotics deployment to the Eastern Pacific Ocean and the Caribbean Sea.   

After a short tour as a student at the Defense Language Institute, he was assigned to the Norwegian frigate HNoMS BERGEN (F-301) as the Primary Warfare Officer, Undersea (ASW Officer) from 2000 to 2002, where he conducted over 50 tactical exercises with diesel submarines in the littoral environment.  His exchange tour was followed by a tour as Operations Officer on USS HALYBURTON (FFG 40) from 2002 to 2003, during which the ship was deployed to the Mediterranean Sea as Air Defense Commander in support of NATO Operation ACTIVE ENDEAVOUR. 

From 2004 to 2006, Commander Bryan was assigned as the initial Commanding Officer of the Littoral Combat Ship prototype SEA FIGHTER (FSF-1), where he and his combined Navy and Coast Guard crew developed numerous transformational manning concepts and high-speed navigation procedures in support of the LCS concept of operations.

Commander Bryan was awarded a Master of International Public Policy degree from the Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS) in 2007 under the sponsorship of the CNO’s Strategic Planner Program before returning to sea as Executive Officer of USS STOCKDALE (DDG 106), where he served from 2008 to 2010 during which time the ship won the Battle Efficiency Award.  

His personal awards include the Meritorious Service Medal (2 awards), Navy Commendation Medal (3 awards), and the Navy Achievement Medal (4 awards).  He also received the Top Gunner Award at the Command at Sea Course, and both the Top Gunner award and the Navy League award for leadership at the Department Head Course.