Western Governors University, an accredited online university with more than 7,600 graduates in North Carolina, has named Taamir Ransome as a recipient of the school’s Distinguished Graduate Awards. Ransome is one of only 15 alumni selected this year to receive the award.

Ransome lives in Raeford, North Carolina, and is a Senior AI Solutions Architect for O-Labs. While serving as an active-duty Special Operations soldier, parent, and mentor, he finished his Master of Science degree in data analytics in 12 months. He has mentored more than 20 individuals through various IT programs and certifications, and founded the Vet-Dev Institute, an organization designed to assist veterans with entering the technology field.

Ransome has been an invaluable contributor to the open source intelligence (OSINT) community, assisting businesses such as Echo Analytics Group, the Hetherington Group, Circle Security, and Skull Games in optimizing their operations. He also volunteered his expertise to All Things Possible and Skull Games to assist in the recovery of victims of human sex trafficking.

“This award is the start of what I want to accomplish in my professional career post-military service,” said Ransome in a press release. “I am planning to pursue another master’s degree. I am also starting a nonprofit that will develop applications for the veteran community, in hopes of giving vets the platform needed to feel like they still have their tribe and aren’t alone.”

For more information about Western Governors University, visit wgu.edu.