Ryan Zinke was born in Bozeman, Montana. Zinke graduated from Whitefish High School in 1980. He served in the U.S. Navy from 1985 to 2008. He earned a B.S. in geology from the University of Oregon in 1984, an M.B.A. in business finance from the National University in 1991, and an M.S. in global leadership from the University of San Diego in 2003. Zinke’s career experience includes working as a ground force commander with Joint Special Operations Command, a commander in a Joint Task Force in Bosnia and Kosovo, an executive officer at a SEAL Training Center, a deputy commander of CJSOTF-AP Special Forces in Iraq, the president and CEO of CDI, the executive director of the Center for Remote Integration, and the CEO of On Point Montana. He served as the president of Great Northern Peace Park Foundation.