After graduating from the University of Oklahoma Undergraduate School, and It's College of Law with a JD Jack Rippy was admitted to the Oklahoma Bar. Shortly thereafter he attended Marine Officer Candidate School, The Basic School, and Naval Justice School and was designated as Trial and Defense/JAG Officer. Thereafter he attended Flight Training and was designated a Naval Aviator. After transition into the Grumman A6 Intruder he flew combat in the RVN from September 1969 to September 1970. He remained in the Marine Corps with multiple tours in the All Weather Attack Community, including command of Marine All Weather Attack Squadron 121.

He attended Amphibious Warfare School, USAF Command and Staff College, The Naval War College, and The Defense Attaché College. His last tour of duty was as the US Defense Attaché in the US Embassy in Rabat, Morocco. He retired as Colonel in 1993, and was admitted to the California Bar. He has been in practice in Southern Ca. since.