Colonel Leroy C. Bryant was born in Miami, Florida. He attended public schools in the city and was an All-City Track & Field athlete at Miami Northwestern Senior High School. He received his Bachelor of Science degree from Florida A&M University in 1976, and was commissioned a Second Lieutenant from the ROTC Program. In 1977, he received his Masters of Science degree in Public Administration from Florida State University, and entered active duty in the Army. He served on active duty until 1981 when he left to begin law school. He received his law degree from the University of Florida in 1983, and he reentered active duty in the Army Judge Advocate General’s Corps (JAGC), where he has served as a military lawyer since 1984. He is a member of the Florida Bar and is admitted to practice before various Federal courts, including the United States Supreme Court.

As a military lawyer, Colonel Bryant has served as both a prosecutor and defense attorney, and he has served in a variety of positions of increased responsibility in Germany, Korea and in the United States, to include assignments in the Pentagon. On three occasions he has served as a Chief Counsel, where he was responsible for providing legal advice to three¬¬- and two-star general officers, and where he was responsible for supervising large legal offices.

In July 2002, Colonel Bryant was assigned to the faculty of the Industrial College of the Armed Forces, where he served as a Professor of National Security Strategy, Law & Policy. From 2003-2005, Colonel Bryant served as the senior criminal defense attorney in the Army and supervised over 300 criminal defense attorneys. In August-September 2005, he served as the legal advisor for the Joint Task Force Commander overseeing Hurricane Katrina relief operations.
Colonel Bryant has received the following military awards: the Legion of Merit (with oak leaf cluster), the Defense Meritorious Service Medal, the Meritorious Service Medal, and the Army Commendation Medal. He is married to the former Sharon D. Owens of Tampa, Florida. They have two adult children, a son and daughter.