Ryan Michael Heron

Ryan is a veteran of the United States Navy in which he served honorably for over 10 years scaling the ranks from Seaman Recruit to Lieutenant before receiving a medical separation in 2010.  In his time in the service, Ryan deployed in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom from 2002-2003, and in support of Operation Enduring Freedom in 2007, 2008, and 2009.

Born in San Diego, California, Ryan graduated from High School in Newport News, Virginia in 2000 and immediately joined the Navy at the age of 17.  In 2002, while stationed in Virginia Beach, Virginia, Ryan earned an Associates of Applied Sciences Degree from Tidewater Community College where he studied Information Systems Technology.  Following his deployment in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom, Ryan was selected among his peers as having innate and outstanding leadership ability and was sent to The Pennsylvania State University where he earned his Bachelors of Science Degree in Sociology and his Commission as a Naval Officer.  After he was separated from the armed forces, Ryan moved to Athens, Georgia where he purchased a home and used his G.I. Bill to attend the University of Georgia School of Law from which he graduated in 2015.

Despite his separation from the Navy, Ryan still has a passion for the ocean and is an avid swimming, sailing, and water-sports enthusiast.  In 2013 he served as Navigator on a 42-foot sailing vessel in the Trans-Pacific regatta making a 16-day voyage from Los Angeles, California to Oahu, Hawaii.  Ryan would later return to Hawaii permanently in 2019 where he continues to practice law part time.

Following his graduation from Law School, Ryan accepted a position at a mid-sized law firm in Atlanta specializing in injury defense.  However, he quickly found that his passions were not well served defending large companies and insurance providers and decided to move back to Athens in the summer of 2016 where he worked with a number of solo practioners before starting his own solo practice in 2018.  Ryan continues to practice law in both Georgia and Hawaii today.