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A Career Pivot Built on Curiosity and Code: Ryan Dallas Finds His Future in Data Science
Ryan Dallas
Education:
M.S. in Data Science 2026, University of Virginia
M.S. in Cybersecurity and Information Assurance from Penn State
B.S. in Computer Engineering from the United States Naval Academy
Hometown:
Washington, D.C.
Grew up in Surfside Beach, S.C.
Ryan Dallas came to data science with intention. After serving as a Surface Warfare Officer and Naval Cryptologist, he began questioning what fulfillment really looked like in his career and realized he was drawn less to titles and more to technical problem-solving. That reflection led him to analytics, Python-driven modeling work in defense, and ultimately to the University of Virginia’s M.S. in Data Science (MSDS) in-person, residential program.
Now an MSDS student in the Class of 2026, Dallas is focused on building deep technical expertise in artificial intelligence and neural networks, with plans to bring those skills back to Washington, D.C. In this Q&A, he shares his path from the Navy to data science, what has surprised him most about the hands-on nature of the program, how UVA’s bootcamps supported his transition, and the advice he offers to prospective students considering the leap.
Q: Tell us about your path to data science.
I left the Navy in 2023 because I wanted to pivot away from general management and toward technical expertise. As I did so, I started reflecting more on the value of a job title. “Surface Warfare Officer” and “Naval Cryptologist” sound cool, but the work was not what I wanted for myself.
As I began combing through the job market, I realized my interests most aligned with jobs containing “analyst” in the title. I was hired as an operations research analyst by LinQuest Corp, a relatively small defense contractor, and my first contract was a logistics study for the Department of Defense using Python code for simulation and modeling. I loved it, THIS was the technical challenge I had been craving, and I really enjoyed working on the problem.
Within the year, I knew I wanted to get advanced education in data science to bolster my resume and to make me more technically proficient in the tools and methods I would need to continue to pursue excellence.
Q: What do you hope to do with an M.S. in Data Science degree?
With this MSDS, I hope to go back to DC and put it to good use solving hard problems. My career goal is excellence in artificial intelligence and neural networks, so I intend to focus on those areas — harnessing ubiquitous data and turning it into insight.
Q: What has surprised you about the MSDS program so far?
I have been pleasantly surprised by how hands-on and centered on practice the program has been. Sure, there is a theoretical element, but we are not fixating on equations on a chalkboard. From week one, we have been pulling datasets and learning how to work with them in a manner consistent with what we can expect to see in the workforce.
Q: What are you involved in outside of class?
Outside of class, I volunteer at the LGBTQ+ Center on-Grounds, I was elected by my peers to the Honor Committee, I am starting work on a research project with the National Security Data and Policy Institute, and I do my best to relax and unwind at home.
Q: What advice would you give to someone considering a Master’s in Data Science?
My top two recommendations:
- Take advantage of the opportunities to learn about the program in-depth: read through the website, sign up for an information session through a video call, come see the grounds/take a tour of the School of Data Science, ask questions. The residential program is 11 months as a full-time student, so do NOT be afraid to ask questions to evaluate whether this is the right opportunity for you.
- Do NOT let the math and/or the prerequisites scare you. I had never practiced/used R in a professional setting but guess what? There’s a UVA-developed R Boot Camp to get incoming students to the right level of proficiency before class starts.
My undergrad was computer engineering, and we didn’t do linear algebra, but guess what? There is a UVA-developed Linear Algebra Boot Camp to cover the necessary topics and get prospective students to the level of proficiency they need before class starts. There’s also a UVA-developed Boot Camp for Python coding, and I did that one, too. Don’t sweat the academic pre-requisites, if you took a statistics class and calculus II, you can find your way to succeed.
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Q: What are some fun facts about yourself?
I am a HUGE nerd! I love stuff like the puzzle section of a newspaper, board games, card games, reading a book so I can talk trash about the movie, drawing, and playing video games on my Nintendo Switch (Metroid is my favorite).
I have a cat, his name is Dashel, and he’s a Cornish Rex — a hypoallergenic breed! The stories of how he came into my possession and how he got his name are pretty good, but best told in-person. He is such a gift, and I am so thankful to have him in my life… even with his 11:00 PM zoomies. Seriously, as soon as he’s done eating his evening snack, he is VERY insistent we go to bed.
Learn more about the full-time, in-person Residential MSDS at the University of Virginia. Request more information, connect with Admissions, or start your application today.
