AI and Cybersecurity Strategy at the U.S. Space Force Are in the Hands of a Mays Grad
One of the first graduates of the online MS MIS program, Daniel Sirias ’24 applies skills and values from his Texas A&M education while leading at the Pentagon.
For Daniel Sirias ’24, earning a degree from Texas A&M University was never just another academic milestone, it was the fulfillment of a lifelong dream. “I’ve always wanted an education at Texas A&M,” Sirias says. “Aggies have always served as role models to me, reflecting how that education translates into successful, respected professionals.”
When Mays Business School’s Master of Science in Management Information Systems (MS MIS) became available as an online program for working professionals, he immediately saw it as an opportunity he could not pass up. He joined one of the program’s earliest cohorts, bringing with him a background rooted in leadership, service, and cybersecurity. With a career spanning over a decade of international service in military information technology and program management, Sirias now serves as the Senior Enlisted Leader for Cybersecurity and Data Governance at the Pentagon.
From Lifelong Aggie Dream to Cybersecurity at the Pentagon
Today, Sirias advises senior military leadership on strategy, policy, and governance across the force. In his position, he helps guide cybersecurity and data decisions impacting roughly 8,000 Space Force personnel. “My role, being at the Pentagon headquarters, is very unique,” Sirias explains. “We are called guardians.” From advising the chief of space operations to shaping policies and resourcing strategies, his work operates at one of the military’s highest strategic levels.
In addition to the skills he applies in his role, Sirias says one of the most meaningful parts of his Mays experience was the people. In his MS MIS cohort, he studied alongside professionals in industries ranging from banking and healthcare to oil and gas, education, and the military. The diversity of backgrounds created an environment where students continuously learned from one another while pushing each other to succeed.
“The moment you start the program, you have to finish it,” Sirias says. “Not only was it the drive of the students, but their backgrounds were very useful when they would share their expertise.” That collaborative environment became even more memorable as the cohort experienced the early rise of generative artificial intelligence together.
“We were right on the upstart of AI being commercialized,” he recalls. “Together the instructors and us students created our first account into the AI models and started playing with it and testing these capabilities.” Seeing those technological shifts firsthand reinforced to Sirias the importance of adaptability and forward-thinking leadership, values that continue to shape his work within the Space Force today.
Applying Mays’ Values and AI-Driven Skills to Serve the U.S. Space Force
He credits the Aggie Core Values, especially leadership and selfless service, for driving his approach to leading teams. “Having those two combined, leadership and selfless service, you’re serving your people that are entrusting you to be able to lead,” Sirias says.
That mindset has become central to how he leads within the Space Force. Rather than focusing solely on mission execution, he emphasizes empowering individuals and helping them “feel their purpose and value” they bring to an organization.
The Aggie Spirit has also shaped Sirias’ life beyond his career. One of his favorite memories tied to Texas A&M is proposing to his wife under the Century Tree, a tradition instantly recognizable to Aggies everywhere. “Though my wife is not a former student, when she says that she said yes under the Century Tree to actual Aggies, immediately, they connect,” he says.
As both Texas A&M and the U.S. Space Force continue evolving alongside rapidly advancing technology, Sirias sees strong potential for future partnerships between the two institutions, and he’s proud to give back. This spring, he traveled to College Station to speak at Mays’ Council for the Management of Information System’s AI Conference alongside many other distinguished leaders in AI. “Just like the Space Force, Texas A&M University will always be forward leaning, Sirias says.”
