Tom Ryan (The Unit)
Encyclopedia
Brigadier General
Thomas R. Ryan (United States Army
, callsign: Blue Iguana) is a fictional character on the CBS television series The Unit
. He is portrayed by Robert Patrick
.
Tom Ryan is a long-time Unit operator, serving as a team, troop and squadron commander within the 1st Special Actions Group (official cover as the "303rd Logistical Studies Group") before assuming the position of commanding officer. He has a long-time standing friendship with both retired Sergeant Major Ron Cheals and current Alpha Team leader Sergeant Major Jonas Blane
.
In the pilot episode, it is revealed that Ryan is having an affair with Tiffany Gerhardt, wife of a senior Unit NCO, Master Sergeant MacDonald Gerhardt
. This is a focal point of much of the first season, with the affair almost exposed at several points. While it seems that Tiffany is truly falling for Ryan while her husband is steadily growing more distant from her, the feeling is not returned. As Unit wife Kim Brown put it, Ryan's in it for the thrill.
At the end of Season 1, Ryan breaks off his ties with Tiffy, and marries a woman named Charlotte Canning, a Washington insider. The newly wed Charlotte was shot twice in the back when a Serbian war criminal discovered the Unit's headquarters and attacked Alpha Team at Ryan's post-wedding
celebration.
In Season 2, Ryan is concerned with checking base security in the wake of the attack. In addition, his wife was on the brink of legal trouble when she ran another driver off the road while under the influence of drugs, a crime that Tiffy Gerhardt took the heat for.
The other major concern on Ryan's plate in Season 2 comes after the 303rd is ordered to assassinate the oil minister of Venezuela, and Ryan calls off the mission because it's a purely political mission for oil
. This comes back to haunt Ryan when White House
official Neil Krinsman refuses to help Ryan rescue Jonas Blane from Georgian rebels. Ryan not only arranges Blane's rescue, but also saves Krinsman from an assassination
attempt by Georgian
rebels (Actually set up by one of Ryan's support staff 'accidentally' leaking his location, to facilitate the would-be assassin's capture).
In early Season 3, Ryan finds out that his wife, Charlotte, has been selling secret information about his unit and rogue CIA agents use it against him and his unit. After successfully breaking out the CIA's conspiracy, he decides to end his marriage.
On his dress uniform, his patches include the U.S. Army Forces Command, 1st Infantry Division and Ranger Tab
. Among his medals and decorations are the Combat Infantryman Badge
, Senior Jump Wings, Distinguished Service Medal
, Purple Heart
, Silver Star
, Kuwait Liberation Medal
, Presidential Unit Citation, and Joint Meritorious Unit Award
.
Ryan was promoted from the rank of Colonel, which he had previously held since the beginning of the show, in Season 4 episode 22, "Unknown Soldier".
His middle name is listed as starting with an R, indicated by the initial both on the Unit's sign and when Colonel Ryan was attempting to mail orders to discreet locations, but a police detective gave Ryan's full name as "Thomas Culver Ryan." This discrepancy has not been explained.
Brigadier general (United States)
A brigadier general in the United States Army, Air Force, and Marine Corps, is a one-star general officer, with the pay grade of O-7. Brigadier general ranks above a colonel and below major general. Brigadier general is equivalent to the rank of rear admiral in the other uniformed...
Thomas R. Ryan (United States Army
United States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
, callsign: Blue Iguana) is a fictional character on the CBS television series The Unit
The Unit
The Unit is an American action-drama television series that focuses on a top-secret military unit modeled after the real-life U.S. Army special operations unit commonly known as Delta Force...
. He is portrayed by Robert Patrick
Robert Patrick
Robert Hammond Patrick, Jr. is an American actor, known for his leading and supporting roles in a number of films and television shows....
.
Tom Ryan is a long-time Unit operator, serving as a team, troop and squadron commander within the 1st Special Actions Group (official cover as the "303rd Logistical Studies Group") before assuming the position of commanding officer. He has a long-time standing friendship with both retired Sergeant Major Ron Cheals and current Alpha Team leader Sergeant Major Jonas Blane
Jonas Blane
Sergeant Major Jonas Blane is a fictional character on the CBS television series The Unit. He is portrayed by Dennis Haysbert...
.
In the pilot episode, it is revealed that Ryan is having an affair with Tiffany Gerhardt, wife of a senior Unit NCO, Master Sergeant MacDonald Gerhardt
Mack Gerhardt
Master Sergeant MacDonald James "Mack" Gerhardt is a fictional character on the CBS television series The Unit. He is portrayed by Max Martini.- Character Overview :...
. This is a focal point of much of the first season, with the affair almost exposed at several points. While it seems that Tiffany is truly falling for Ryan while her husband is steadily growing more distant from her, the feeling is not returned. As Unit wife Kim Brown put it, Ryan's in it for the thrill.
At the end of Season 1, Ryan breaks off his ties with Tiffy, and marries a woman named Charlotte Canning, a Washington insider. The newly wed Charlotte was shot twice in the back when a Serbian war criminal discovered the Unit's headquarters and attacked Alpha Team at Ryan's post-wedding
Wedding
A wedding is the ceremony in which two people are united in marriage or a similar institution. Wedding traditions and customs vary greatly between cultures, ethnic groups, religions, countries, and social classes...
celebration.
In Season 2, Ryan is concerned with checking base security in the wake of the attack. In addition, his wife was on the brink of legal trouble when she ran another driver off the road while under the influence of drugs, a crime that Tiffy Gerhardt took the heat for.
The other major concern on Ryan's plate in Season 2 comes after the 303rd is ordered to assassinate the oil minister of Venezuela, and Ryan calls off the mission because it's a purely political mission for oil
Petroleum
Petroleum or crude oil is a naturally occurring, flammable liquid consisting of a complex mixture of hydrocarbons of various molecular weights and other liquid organic compounds, that are found in geologic formations beneath the Earth's surface. Petroleum is recovered mostly through oil drilling...
. This comes back to haunt Ryan when White House
White House
The White House is the official residence and principal workplace of the president of the United States. Located at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW in Washington, D.C., the house was designed by Irish-born James Hoban, and built between 1792 and 1800 of white-painted Aquia sandstone in the Neoclassical...
official Neil Krinsman refuses to help Ryan rescue Jonas Blane from Georgian rebels. Ryan not only arranges Blane's rescue, but also saves Krinsman from an assassination
Assassination
To carry out an assassination is "to murder by a sudden and/or secret attack, often for political reasons." Alternatively, assassination may be defined as "the act of deliberately killing someone, especially a public figure, usually for hire or for political reasons."An assassination may be...
attempt by Georgian
Georgia (country)
Georgia is a sovereign state in the Caucasus region of Eurasia. Located at the crossroads of Western Asia and Eastern Europe, it is bounded to the west by the Black Sea, to the north by Russia, to the southwest by Turkey, to the south by Armenia, and to the southeast by Azerbaijan. The capital of...
rebels (Actually set up by one of Ryan's support staff 'accidentally' leaking his location, to facilitate the would-be assassin's capture).
In early Season 3, Ryan finds out that his wife, Charlotte, has been selling secret information about his unit and rogue CIA agents use it against him and his unit. After successfully breaking out the CIA's conspiracy, he decides to end his marriage.
On his dress uniform, his patches include the U.S. Army Forces Command, 1st Infantry Division and Ranger Tab
Ranger Tab
The Ranger Tab is a service school military decoration of the United States Army signifying completion of the 61-day long Ranger School course in small-unit infantry combat tactics in woodland, mountain, and swamp operations. In December 2009 a British NCO earned the Ranger tab...
. Among his medals and decorations are the Combat Infantryman Badge
Combat Infantryman Badge
The Combat Infantryman Badge is the U.S. Army combat service recognition decoration awarded to soldiers—enlisted men and officers holding colonel rank or below, who personally fought in active ground combat while an assigned member of either an infantry or a Special Forces unit, of brigade size...
, Senior Jump Wings, Distinguished Service Medal
Distinguished Service Medal (Army)
The Distinguished Service Medal is a military award of the United States Army that is presented to any person who, while serving in any capacity with the United States military, has distinguished himself or herself by exceptionally meritorious service to the Government in a duty of great...
, Purple Heart
Purple Heart
The Purple Heart is a United States military decoration awarded in the name of the President to those who have been wounded or killed while serving on or after April 5, 1917 with the U.S. military. The National Purple Heart Hall of Honor is located in New Windsor, New York...
, Silver Star
Silver Star
The Silver Star is the third-highest combat military decoration that can be awarded to a member of any branch of the United States armed forces for valor in the face of the enemy....
, Kuwait Liberation Medal
Kuwait Liberation Medal
The Kuwait Liberation Medal is a military service medal of several countries. The medal is issued in different versions for each country, those being:*Kuwait Liberation Medal *Kuwait Liberation Medal *Kuwait Liberation Medal...
, Presidential Unit Citation, and Joint Meritorious Unit Award
Joint Meritorious Unit Award
The Joint Meritorious Unit Award is a military award that was established on June 4, 1981 by Secretary of Defense Caspar Weinberger and was implemented by Department of Defense Directive 1348.27 dated July 22, 1982...
.
Ryan was promoted from the rank of Colonel, which he had previously held since the beginning of the show, in Season 4 episode 22, "Unknown Soldier".
His middle name is listed as starting with an R, indicated by the initial both on the Unit's sign and when Colonel Ryan was attempting to mail orders to discreet locations, but a police detective gave Ryan's full name as "Thomas Culver Ryan." This discrepancy has not been explained.