▁years ▁later , ▁he ▁earned ▁his ▁J . D . ▁from ▁Arizona ▁State ▁University ▁Law ▁School ▁( now ▁Sand ra ▁Day ▁O ' Con nor ▁College ▁of ▁Law ). ▁ ▁Military ▁experience ▁After ▁gradu ating ▁from ▁college , ▁Ryan ▁en rolled ▁in ▁the ▁United ▁States ▁Marine ▁Corps . ▁While ▁in ▁the ▁service , ▁he ▁served ▁as ▁a ▁pl ato on ▁commander ▁and ▁achieved ▁a ▁rank ▁of ▁First ▁Lieutenant . ▁As ▁a ▁result ▁of ▁w ounds ▁sust ained ▁in ▁battle , ▁Ryan ▁received ▁a ▁Medical ▁Ret irement ▁in ▁February ▁ 1 9 6 9 . ▁According ly , ▁he ▁was ▁awarded ▁two ▁Pur ple ▁Heart ▁med als , ▁in ▁addition ▁to ▁a ▁Bron ze ▁Star ▁for ▁actions ▁in ▁combat . ▁ ▁Professional ▁career ▁After ▁his ▁dis charge ▁from ▁the ▁US MC , ▁Ryan ▁took ▁a ▁job ▁in ▁the ▁Mar ic op a ▁Country ▁Att orney ' s ▁Office , ▁as ▁Deput y ▁County ▁Att orney . ▁There ▁he ▁served ▁in ▁the ▁Major ▁Fel ony ▁Bureau ▁and ▁held ▁the ▁position ▁of ▁co - co ordin ator ▁of ▁the ▁county ' s ▁sex ▁cr imes ▁unit . ▁He ▁stayed ▁at ▁Mar ic op a ▁Country ▁Att orney ' s ▁Office ▁for ▁eight ▁years , ▁starting ▁in ▁October ▁ 1 9 7 7 ▁and ▁ending ▁in ▁October ▁ 1 9 8 5 . ▁ ▁After ▁leaving ▁the ▁County ▁Att orney ' s ▁Office , ▁Ryan ▁served ▁as ▁a ▁full - time ▁Judge ▁pro ▁temp ore ▁for ▁the ▁Mar ic op a ▁County ▁Super ior ▁Court , ▁a