Bryan retired from active duty at his permanent rank of captain on December 31, 1921.[13] He was credited with additional active duty time for his service as naval governor of American Samoa from 1925 to 1927.[14] On June 21, 1930, Bryan was advanced to rear admiral on the retired list.[15]
Governorship
Bryan assumed the governorship on March 17, 1925. While governor, he established the American Samoa Department of Communications.[16] Bryan was one of only three naval governors of the territory who had retired from naval service before serving as governor, the others being John Martin Poyer and Edward Stanley Kellogg.[17]
Bryan served as Governor during a period of peace following the turbulent years of Mau activities. He completed the work on a bill of rights, which had begun under Governor Edward Stanley Kellogg, and incorporated it into the Code of American Samoa. During his tenure, he oversaw the construction of two new dispensaries, one in Amouli and another in Ofu. Additionally, Governor Bryan imposed a ban on malagas.[18]
^Sorensen, Stan (21 December 2007). "Historical Notes"(PDF). Tapuitea: Official American Samoa Government Weekly Newspaper. II (31). Government of American Samoa: 2. Archived from the original(PDF) on 27 May 2010. Retrieved 1 December 2009.
^Sunia, Fofō Iosefa Fiti (2001). Puputoa: Host of Heroes - A record of the history makers in the First Century of American Samoa, 1900-2000. Suva, Fiji: Oceania Printers. Pages 18-19. ISBN 9829036022.