Ryan operates as the White House Chief of Staff and trusted confidant to President Graham, navigating policy disputes with Secretary of Defense Wilson, whose hawkish strategies on global conflicts and military engagements clash with Ryan’s cautious approach. During a breach of White House security—triggered by a cyberattack and subsequent zombie infiltration—Ryan collaborates with Graham and Wilson to investigate, overseeing agent deployments to neutralize the threat.

Post-crisis, Ryan backs Graham’s move to classify the incident, framing casualties under administrative leave to prevent public panic. When intelligence hints at Chinese cyberattack involvement, Wilson champions retaliatory strikes, but Ryan counters, stressing inconclusive evidence and opposing rash escalation. Graham temporarily greenlights Wilson’s covert submarine operation near Chinese waters, testing Ryan’s restraint.

Ryan’s distrust of Wilson deepens as the secretary engineers Graham’s incendiary speech accusing China of aggression during the Penamstan peace talks—a move Ryan condemns as destabilizing. His reservations prove justified when Agent Patrick shares intel from Leon Kennedy exposing Wilson’s plot to fabricate hostilities for personal power. The revelation forces Graham to scrap the confrontational address, adopting Ryan’s push for dialogue to defuse tensions.

Amid these clashes, Ryan emerges as a steadfast advocate for stability, favoring methodical analysis over Wilson’s militarized brinkmanship. Though his sway over Graham wavers early, his persistent rationality helps steer the administration away from catastrophic conflict, underscoring his role as a pragmatic counterweight to impulsive agendas.