(WACO) – Bryan Ray, 35, of Temple is a Cyber Security major at Texas State Technical College.

Ray, a U.S. Marine Corps veteran, is a TSTC student ambassador and is scheduled to graduate in 2019.

The Bryan – College Station native grew up playing baseball and showing animals in 4-H. He is a 2000 graduate of Still Creek Christian Academy in Bryan.

When Ray is not studying or in classes, he spends as much time as possible with his wife and two children or at the gym or closest golf course.

What made you decide to join the U.S. Marine Corps? “I was in for 10 years. I enlisted right after 9/11 when I was attending Texas A&M University and majoring in kinesiology. I wanted to serve and do my part. I did one tour in Iraq. I did my training in San Diego and spent the rest of my time in the military police as a criminal investigator.”

Why did you choose Cyber Security to major in? “I didn’t want to do police work anymore. I worked in retail with my dad and I decided to check TSTC out. I saw Cyber Security and did some research in the field and came and talked to the staff.”

How did you adapt to attending college again? “It was a small adjustment being in the classroom, doing homework and commuting. But I’ve learned so much from when I first started.”

What do you do as a TSTC student ambassador? “I do tours and work in the Welcome Center at the Student Services Center. I answer questions for visitors and help anybody with what they need. I work about 12 to 15 hours a week. Having the GI Bill with the financial aid, I can bridge the gap with extra work.”

What are your plans after graduation? “I would like to work for the U.S. Department of Defense or National Security Agency or somewhere else in the government. I like how the government is regimented.”

One of the fields that Cyber Security graduates can go into is information security analysis. Texas had more than 7,500 jobs as of May 2016, according to the most recent information from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. The Dallas – Plano – Irving area had the most jobs in Texas with 3,300. The field is expected to grow 18 percent nationally through 2024, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

People with Cyber Security degrees can also pursue jobs as computer support specialists, web developers and database administrators.

For more information on Texas State Technical College, go to tstc.edu.