Bryon Cain

Field Instructor - WFR

Bryon Cain is a Field Instructor at The National Center for Outdoor & Adventure Education (NCOAE) in Wilmington, North Carolina, where he brings more than two decades of military and survival training to the field outdoor education and adventure programming. A retired U.S. Navy veteran with 22 years of service, Bryon draws on his deep background in navigation, wilderness survival, and instruction to guide students with purpose, precision, and heart.

Based in nearby Hampstead, NC, Bryon has held multiple roles in the Navy, including Aviation Electronics Technician, Ship Navigator, and Navy SEAL. He also served as a Riverine Jet Boat Instructor and Survival, Evasion, Resistance, and Escape (SERE) Instructor for the Marine Forces Special Operations Command.

An Outward Bound alum (Class of 1988), Bryon’s roots in the outdoors run deep. He believes strongly in the power of nature to teach discipline, self-reliance, and connection. At NCOAE, he’s excited for new challenges and values the opportunity to teach and learn alongside fellow instructors and students.

Bryon earned a bachelor’s degree in business and communication from Liberty University (Lynchburg, VA) in 2015 and is certified as a Wilderness First Responder (WFR). He is a proud member of the Association for Experiential Education (AEE).

Outside of work, Bryon enjoys spending time with his wife, Patti, and their two adult sons, Tucker and Travis. He can often be found with his service dog, Stella, exploring the woods, hunting, fishing, or practicing meditation and yoga. His personal interests also include plant identification and survival skills.

Bryon’s role models are his father and stepfather, who taught him to live with honor, respect women, and uphold integrity in every interaction. If he had a superpower, he’d choose to be a Grey Jedi — walking the line between light and dark to bring balance and good to the world, without dogma.