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Hello, I’m Ryan Daniels – a proud Marylander and lifelong resident of St. Mary’s County.

My time in the military – especially as a decorated combat wounded veteran – gave me a perspective I’ll never forget. When you’ve faced life and death, you understand what truly matters: taking care of each other. That same conviction drove me to serve veterans at home through non-profit organizations, as a consultant for the Department of Veterans Affairs, and to Ukraine to volunteer in the Russian – Ukrainian war. It’s what drives me now to build a stronger community here at home.

And as a global traveler, I’ve seen firsthand the challenges and successes of different communities, which has shaped my vision of how we can improve St. Mary’s County. These experiences have given me a broader perspective on how to approach our local issues with a fresh, open-minded outlook.

Our county deserves determined leadership – leadership that doesn’t just make promises, but delivers results. Like many of you, I’ve seen the gap between what was promised and what has since been done. That’s why I’m running to represent District 4 as your County Commissioner.

As a proud son of Maryland, born at the Patuxent River Naval Station into an active-duty Navy family, I learned the values of service, sacrifice, and resilience from a very young age. My father served our country with honor, and my mother balanced caring for our family while working as a teacher, ensuring that we never lacked for support or love, even in the most trying times.

Growing up in a military family, I developed a deep respect for those who serve our nation. The resilience and maturity that came from frequent moves, parental deployments, and being able to see and live in different parts of the world, like our time stationed in Hawaii, shaped me into the person I am today—one who understands the importance of community, respect, and responsibility. 

After high school, where I proudly graduated from Leonardtown High in 2005, I took a path that felt almost inevitable. The events of 9/11 left an indelible mark on me, and in 2007, after some time in college, I enlisted in the United States Marine Corps out of Lexington Park, Maryland. Over the next eight years, I proudly served in both Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom. In May 2011, just two weeks before returning home, I was wounded by an Improvised Explosive Device and received one of our nation’s highest honors; the Purple Heart. My second enlistment took me to Eglin Air Force Base in Florida, and later to Okinawa, Japan, where I continued to serve with dedication.

In 2016, after achieving the rank of Staff Sergeant and a decorated career as a Combat Engineer, I transitioned out of the military due to a desire to spend more time with my family and address some medical concerns. But my service didn’t end there. I found a new purpose by attending Warfighter Advance, a nonprofit dedicated to reintegrating veterans into civilian life, and later serving as a mentor. As the premier non-profit assisting veterans in our area, I joined its Leadership Board as Alumni Director in 2020. In 2021, the organization was honored with the Nonprofit of the Year award by Governor Larry Hogan.

Alongside my nonprofit work, I earned a Bachelor's degree in Homeland Security and a Master’s in Management and Leadership, while participating in the Naval Acquisition Development Program (NADP) at Patuxent River Naval Base. After completion of the NADP, I became a full-time federal employee.

In 2023, I left Patuxent River to focus on my non-profit work serving our veteran population, and I began work as a consultant to help veterans secure their promised (and earned) Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) benefits. Alongside this, my passion for travel led me to explore the world. From Iceland to Taiwan, Tanzania to Ukraine, and many others, my travels broadened my perspective and reinforced the idea that effective leadership is about more than just laws and policies—it’s about understanding the lived experiences of people from all walks of life. Curiosity, not comfort, made me choose to study Kung Fu in China, walk the Camino de Santiago in France and Spain, and climb Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania.

In particular, my time in Ukraine during the Russian-Ukraine war gave me invaluable insights into the importance of community, unity, and the human element of politics. These global experiences and my work in both the federal and nonprofit sectors have helped me develop the leadership, strategic planning, and communication skills that I am eager to bring to the local level as your County Commissioner.

Even though I am running as a Democrat on paper, my thought processes follow Utilitarianism, a philosophy whose core idea is simple; actions are morally right if they produce the greatest good for the greatest amount of people. This cuts through the politics and focuses on one thing. It is not about picking teams or chasing ideological purity – it is about what actually works. My belief is that if us humans could embrace this approach more often, we could build a world that is more effective, more fair, and less dominated by feel-good misconceptions that sound right but cause real harm. 

The biggest hurdle to this is the eternal tug-of-war between feeling and thinking. Both have their place, but emotions have this annoying tendency to hijack rational analysis just when we need it the most. 

I’m committed to ensuring that St. Mary’s County is not a casualty of higher politics, and in the clearest terms I can offer, I say this: Not on my watch. I will make sure I do everything in my power to keep St. Mary’s County safe, prosperous, and secure; able to stand on its own merit.

I ask you, in fact I implore you, to take the time to talk with me. Whatever your political affiliation, I want to meet you, hear your concerns, and work with you to find solutions. Whether through emails, calls, or community events, I promise to listen, research, and learn the best way to serve you.

I am deeply grateful for the opportunity to represent this great county, and I invite you to join me in supporting these principles and many others to ensure the growth, safety, and prosperity of St. Mary’s County.

I look forward to working with you.

As Commissioner, I’ll work directly for you: overseeing county policies, managing the budget, safeguarding county property and services, and shaping local laws that impact our daily lives. Most importantly, I’ll be present – listening, engaging, and working side by side with our community.