Patrick L. Ryan ’74

After graduating from BGSU in 1974 with a degree in accounting, Ryan spent the next 15 years working for a Fortune 500 company in various controllership positions. In 1988, Ryan and his two partners formed SMR Technologies, Inc. and acquired a small specialty aerospace and defense business from their employer.

Over the next six years, SMR sold one product line and acquired four additional businesses. The last acquisition, Flight Structures, Inc. in Seattle, Washington, created a company in excess of 600 employees. The businesses were consolidated and the company was renamed SMR Aerospace. The Flight Structures business was an engineering and manufacturing company specializing in systems design and FAA certification. With the addition of Flight Structures, SMR Aerospace became a global supplier to virtually every significant airline in the world, as well as the US Department of Defense and OEMs such as Boeing, Airbus, British Aerospace, Northrup Grumman and Cessna.

In addition to providing engineering services for aircraft reconfiguration to the airlines, SMR became the primary aftermarket design supplier for passenger-to-freighter aircraft conversions. Other products provided by SMR included: engine hush kits for FedEx’s fleet, mid-air refueling components for the US Air Force, Hovercraft Skirting and F-14 Wing Seal components for the US Navy, specialty cargo components for Boeing and propeller and wing de-icing components for general aviation aircraft to name just a few.

In 1998, Ryan and his partners sold SMR Aerospace to a public company. Ryan then formed, along with his wife, Debra,  The PDR Group, LLC, a family investment company, and The PDR Foundation, Inc. a private family foundation.

In 2001, Ryan and his partners acquired Aero Instrument Company in Cleveland, Ohio. Aero was a designer and manufacturer of air-data censors for all types of aircraft. In 2011, Aero acquired Space Age Controls in Los Angeles, a provider of censors and censor test equipment. In 2012 Aero was sold to a public company.

Ryan served on the BGSU Foundation Board of Directors for 11 years where he was chair of the investment committee for several years as well as board chair for two years. Ryan and his wife are members of the President’s Club and the Falcon Club at BGSU. The Ryans support several charitable initiatives through their family foundation including BGSU, scholarships for high school seniors, Akron Children’s Hospital and several local civic and charitable organizations.

Ryan received a Master’s Degree in Business Administration from Indiana University and is a CPA in the State of Ohio. The Ryans have two sons and two grandchildren.

Published: 2013