Ryan Christopherson grew up in rural Minnesota and graduated from Clarkfield High School in 1989. Wrestling became his passion and helped him secure a spot at the United States Naval Academy that summer. After four competitive years filled with wrestling, Airborne Static Line Jump Club, and academics, he graduated in 1993 with a Mechanical Engineering degree and a naval flight school slot. In spring 1994, he began flight training in Pensacola, Florida, starting with T34C Turbo Mentors at Whiting Field. He then attended Intermediate and Advanced Jet school in Kingsville, TX, flying the T45A Goshawk and earning his wings of gold after aircraft carrier qualifications.

Initially assigned to the ES3A Shadow jet in Coronado, CA, he completed one deployment with the USS Abraham Lincoln. After the ES3A was decommissioned, he transitioned to the F14D at Oceana Naval Air Station in Virginia Beach, VA, with the VF31 Tomcatters, completing two more deployments, including an 11-month tour during Operation Iraqi Freedom in 2003. After fulfilling his Navy obligation, he returned to Minnesota to farm with his family and began flying the F16C Fighting Falcon with the Air National Guard in Sioux Falls, SD. He retired in 2013 after 20 years of military service.

With almost 3,000 hours of military flight time, he completed over 400 carrier traps on the USS Lincoln and nearly 500 total arrestments during various detachments. Christopherson retired as a Major in the Air Guard Reserve after five deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan, participating in the Opening Night Strikes in 2003 and flying advanced aircraft. He now enjoys flying his 402 AirTractor spray plane, which, though slower, is still thrilling.