He also completed graduate work in mineral law, land management, international studies and business.

In 1967, Ary was named vice president of Union Carbide Exploration Corporation in New York City.

[2] Ary worked as vice president of exploration and director of development for Utah International, Inc. in San Francisco, California, from 1975 to 1980.

[2][3] Ary also served for four years on the National Strategic Materials and Minerals Program Advisory Committee for the U.S. Secretary of the Interior.

He was appointed the 18th Director on March 31, 1988, succeeding Robert C. Horton, and serving under Presidents Reagan and George H. W.

[2][4] Under his leadership, the Bureau of Mines advanced a number of technologies, including self-rescue breathing equipment, production processes for specialty metals, construction of man made wetlands, and the use of bacteria to remove arsenic and cyanide from waste waters.

[3] He left the Bureau at the start of Clinton's administration in January 1993, and Herman Enzer became the acting director.