Ryan McDaniel

Ryan McDaniel has been Executive Director of Secure Identity Services since 2018. Secure Identity Services provides enterprise Identity and Access Management services to the Virginia Tech community. Ryan also serves as a Data Steward for several data sub-domains including personal identity data and “non-employee-like” affiliates. In his role as a Data Steward, Ryan participates in the Data Management Group.

Ryan has worked in Higher Education for over twenty years. He started his career in Higher Education as an Assistant Registrar in California and moved into an IT role while working at Stanford University. In 2006 he moved to Colorado and worked at a for-profit company providing ERP support for an online college, including business analysis and ERP application security. From 2011 to 2018 he worked at the Office of the University President at the University of Colorado overseeing ERP application security and Identity and Access Management services. He has presented on ERP Application Security at Higher Education Conferences, such as at the Higher Education User Group conference.

Ryan believes in the importance of service (Ut Prosim) and giving back to the community. He spent two years running operations for an NGO in the former Soviet Union. In Castle Rock, Colorado he served on the town’s Historic Preservation Board, including serving as the chairman for two years. He currently serves on the Craig County Broadband Committee, working to bring broadband services to the community.

Ryan is also a passionate academic in a variety of fields, having earned an M.A. in History (Ancient & Medieval and Military History) from San Jose State University, an M.S. in Information Systems (Enterprise Technology Management) from the University of Colorado, and a Graduate Certificate in Security Studies from Virginia Tech. He spent two years (2009-2011) studying International Relations with an Area Studies concentration in the Middle East in the Republic of Azerbaijan and is currently a Ph.D. Candidate in the Planning, Governance, and Globalization program in the School of Public and International Affairs at Virginia Tech.