Tryon initially enlisted in the Navy in 1970 and was selected to attend the United States Naval Academy.

[1] As a captain, Tyron was assigned to 2nd Battalion, 5th Marines where he served as company commander and operations officer.

He attended the United States Army Command and General Staff College in 1987, concurrently earning a Masters Degree from Webster University.

His staff and command assignments include US Special Operations Command, Europe from 1988 to 1991 where he deployed in support of Operations Desert Shield/Desert Storm and Operation Provide Comfort operating in Northern Iraq and Southern Turkey; director of the Special Missions Branch, Special Operations Training Group, II MEF from 1991 to 1993; Commanding Officer of 2nd Battalion, 8th Marines at Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune from 1993 to 1995; deputy executive assistant to the Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff at the Pentagon and student at Johns Hopkins University School of Advanced International Studies where he received a Master of Arts Degree in International Public Policy in 1998.

Tryon was selected for promotion to colonel in May 1997 and later was assigned as Commanding Officer, 24th MEU (SOC) from 1998 to 2000.