KEESLER AIR FORCE BASE, Miss. -- As Senior Master Sgt. Daniel Ganus, 403rd Security Forces Squadron superintendent, retires from the Air Force after 20 years of service, he looks back on a career that began when he was just 20 years old.
“I was just working jobs that weren’t gonna get me anywhere,” he recalled. “My parents came to me and said, ‘We think you need to join the military.’ And I said, ‘I know, I was just waiting for somebody else to say it.”
He enlisted in 2005, shipping out to basic training only a few weeks after signing his contract. Security Forces had the soonest available slot, and the recruiting video sealed the deal. “The video had ATVs, but the big thing I saw was K9,” he said. “I thought it could be fun to be a K9 handler, so I said, sure, I’ll do it. My recruiter was very happy to get me into Security Forces as quickly as possible.”
One of the most defining parts of his career came when he became a combat arms instructor. “I found out that I really liked teaching people,” Ganus reflected. “Seeing people get something they didn’t think they could and coaching them through it—that kind of continued throughout the rest of my career. Whatever else I did, I just knew I liked teaching.”
Looking back, he said it wasn’t one moment that confirmed he had chosen the right path, but the people beside him.
“There’s something about a career field where you’re awake when everybody else is asleep, and you have to rely on each other,” he noted. “It’s not comfortable and it’s not convenient, but you take pride in that. And when you find other people that do too, you kind of find a home.”
Sgt. Ganus Retirement
U.S. Air Force Senior Master Sgt. Daniel Ganus recieves the U.S. flag in recognition of honorable service during a retirement ceremony at Keesler Air Force Base, Miss., Sept. 6. The flag symbolizes the Air Force's appreciation for his sacrifice and commitment. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Shelby Jessee)
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Sgt. Ganus Retirement
A shadow box is presented to Senior Master Sgt. Daniel Ganus, 403rd Security Forces Squadron superintendent, highlighting key milestones and achievements from his 20-year career. The display includes awards, patches, and insignia representing his legacy. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Shelby Jessee)
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Sgt. Ganus Retirement
U.S. Air Force Senior Master Sgt. Daniel Ganus, 403rd Security Forces Squadron superintendent, is honored during his retirement ceremony at Keesler Air Force Base, Miss., Sept. 6, 2025. Family, friends, and fellow Airmen gathered to recognize his distinguished career and lasting impact. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Shelby Jessee)
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As he advanced, he felt a responsibility to lead when others walked away. “A lot of good people left the career field, and as I advanced, I felt like I could be a positive leader,” he said.
“Leadership to me was really listening to people, asking good questions to help them get to the answer, and taking the time to actually come to the right one—whether it was pleasant or not.”
By the end of his career, he was responsible for the day-to-day operations of an entire squadron.
“Once you prove to yourself that you’re capable of handling that responsibility, it gives you confidence as a husband and a father,” Ganus explained. “But once you know you have the ability to do something, you also have the responsibility to do it.”
He’s most proud of helping squadrons grow stronger. “I’ve taken multiple squadrons from being extremely deficient—on the point of discussions about whether they needed to continue to exist—to being completely compliant and operating at the level they should be,” he said. “That’s one of the big things I take away as an accomplishment, taking things and helping turn them around.”
As for advice to younger defenders, he said success comes from persistence and mentorship. “It’s not easy to do it well. You can do it the easy way, but you won’t do it well,” he said. “Find good leaders who will tell you the why behind the what. Don’t just go after the shiny-looking leader. Find the people that care and attach to them.”
Now, as he steps into civilian life with a new job at a company on the Coast, his focus is on his family. “It’s time, and I’m ready,” he said. “I’ve accomplished what I think I needed to accomplish, and I’m satisfied to move on to the next adventure. Getting to retire when my oldest kid is only eight years old is pretty great. I’ve got an eight-year-old, a five-year-old, a two-year-old, and a baby on the way. Now I don’t have to balance the military side of the house as they grow up. I get to just be there with them.”