Chief Warrant Officer R.W. Ryan, the Regimental Sergeant Major of 35 (Sydney) Service Battalion was born in Sydney, N.S.

CWO Ryan joined the Canadian Army Reserve as an Artilleryman in Victoria Park, Sydney, N.S. in 1963; he joined the Canadian Army as a Private in 1965.

CWO Ryan progressed through the ranks, completing numerous courses and holding many positions at Company and Battalion levels, with the Royal Canadian Regiment and Air Command. In addition, CWO Ryan served with NATO in Germany, two tours on the island of Cyprus and a peacemaking tour in Somalia. Following his retirement in 1994 with 29 years in the Canadian Armed Forces, CWO R.W. Ryan joined 35 (Sydney) Service Battalion in 1995 and was promoted to his present rank in March 1999.

During his years of dedicated service to the Canadian Forces, CWO Ryan has been awarded the Special Service Medal, United Nations Peacekeepers Medal, the Canadian Forces Decoration and the Order of Military Merit. CWO Ryan resides in Sydney, N.S. with his wife Bernadette.