[7] Ayala later earned an MBA from Campbell University and an MA in national security and strategic studies from the Naval War College.

[4] In 1990, Ayala was stationed at Fort Bliss Texas, where he was assigned to the new Joint Task Force 6 for Counter Drug Operations.

[4] In 2001, he was assigned to Headquarters, United States European Command in Stuttgart, Germany as its humanitarian assistance branch chief.

In this position, Ayala supported the U.S.’s Strategic Engagement policies through Humanitarian Assistance Program coordination for Eastern Europe, the Balkans, the Baltics, the Caucasus, Russia, and Africa.

From January 2006 to the beginning of 2007, he deployed to Iraq for a third tour, this time as an embedded advisor to the 1st Iraqi Army Division in Habbaniyah, Al Anbar province.

[2] After leaving the Marine Corps, Ayala was hired by the City of San Antonio in Texas as director of their Office of Military & Veteran Affairs.

[In addition], he received the 2007 Excellence in Military Service Award from The League of United Latin American Citizens.”[citation needed]