Public Domain Picture: Ryan Maier

Ryan Maier (left)AS2(SW) Ryan Maier onboard USS Kearsarge LHD-3 with his ship, the USS PONCE LPD-15, behind him while crossing the Atlantic. USFWS Federal Wildlife Officer (right) Ryan Maier on patrol in a closed area on Crystal River National Wildlife Refuge.. At just 18 years old, Ryan Maier entered the U.S. Navy in February 1998 and attended Recruit Training Command in Great Lakes, IL, and went from being a Deck Seaman to 2nd Class Petty Officer (E-5). He served on two sixth month deployments to the Mediterranean, participating in support of the NATO Kosovo Campaign. Maier was also on deployment in the Adriatic Sea during the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks. Some port visits included St. Thomas (USVI) Bahamas, Puerto Rico, Spain, Morocco, France, Italy, Sicily, Greece, Turkey, Cyprus, Croatia, Majorca, and Malta. . In February 2002, Maier reluctantly moved back home to Florida and left the Navy. Maier finished his Associate’s Degree and hired on as a State Game Warden. After five and a half years with the state and finally finishing his Bachelor’s Degree, Maier found a position at the Crystal River National Wildlife Refuge in December of 2008 as a Federal Wildlife Officer. Maier utilized his status as a veteran and participated in the service VRA program. He attended FLETC in 2009 and was an accomplished student, recognized as the top academic score for his class, completed all required training, and after a two-year term appointment, became a permanent employee. . Maier’s current responsibilities include visitor safety, natural resource protection, and public education of local laws related to manatee interaction. Married for eight years, he and his wife Jessica have two children.

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Maier, Ryan, Veterans

March 28, 2014